fol. 104vMestre Robert Le
Grosceteste
Ky bien pense bien
put
dire;
Sanz penser ne put suffire
De nul bien fet
comencer;
Deu nus doint de li penser,
line5De ky, par ki, en ki sunt
Trestuz
les biens ki
al mund sunt.
Deu le Pere e Deu le Fiz
E Deu le Seinz Esperiz,
Persones treis en Trinité
line10E un sul Deu en unité,
Sanz fin e sanz comencement,
A ki honur e glorie apent.
Il nus doint ses evres fere
E nus defende de contrere.
line15Tuz avums mester de Deu
aÿe,
E
trestuz ne
purrunt
mye
Saver le
langage, en
fin,
De ebreu, de greu, e de latin
Pur
loer sun
Creatur.
line20De bouche
de chauntur,
Ke ne
seit close
pur
Deu loer
E
sun seint nun
pronuncier;
Ke
chescun en sun
langage
Le
conusse, sanz
folage,
line25Sun Deu e sa redempcion,
En romance comence ma reysun
Pur ceus ke ne seyvent mie
Ne lettrure ne cleregie.
Del mund dirrai pur quey fu fet,
line30E pus coment il doné est
A Adam,
nostre
premer pere,
E
paraÿs, en tiel
manere,
O tant de joie, o taunt douçour,
E pus li ciel, a chef de tour;
line35E coment fu pus perdu,
Pus restorez, e pus rendu.
Aseez sovent oÿ avez
fol. 105rComent le mund fu
criez;
Pur ceo ne voyl jeo pas
descrire,
line40For ceo ke apent a
matire:
Ke
en sis jors Deus
tout
crea,
Al setime
si
reposa.
Oÿez, seingnurs,
communement:
Kant Deu al commencement
line45Ceil e terre fet avoyt
(Ke tut bien seit e tut bien veyt),
O tut lur attornemens,
Le solail fu en cel
tens
Set fez plus cler ke est
ores,
line50E la lune esteit
lores
Come le solail ore
lut,
Luseyt dunke de la
nut.
Ne le tenez pas a folie,
Kar ceo est le dit Ysaÿe.
line55Tutes
les choses del mund —
En terre, en mer, a val, e a
munt —
De greingnure vertue furent
Avant ke forfet
urent
Eve e Adam par folage.
line60Deu! Quel dolur e quel
damage!
A la mort sunt tuz livré
Ke del lignage sunt trové,
E ceo est par bone reysun.
Aprés vus dirray la cheisun,
line65Kar bon est le remembrer
Pur Deu le plus doucement
amer.
Kant Deu le mund fet
avoyt,
Si ke nule rien ne
faillot —
Bestes, arbres, herbes, e
frut,
line70Chescun sulum ceo ke il fut:
Pessuns
en le ewe,
oyseaus
en le er,
Ceo devums
trebyen
saver —
Kant iceo trestut fet a,
Tut au derein Adam crea
line75En le val de Ebron, sanz
dotance.
Le fist
de terre a
sa semblance;
Aprés la Seinte Trinité
Cria sa alme en verité.
Amur ne li pout plus
moustrer
line80Ke aprés sa maïmes former.
En paraïs le ad mené,
Somoil en lui ad getté,
Une
coste de lui
prist,
Dunt sa compaingne a lui fist;
line85E pus devant lui la mena
E en
ayde pus
lui dona.
Sens lui dona, e saver,
Biauté, poer, e franc
voler,
De tut le munde la seingnerie,
line90E tuz jurs sanz morir la vie,
E paraïs en heritage,
E vivre, deskes icel estage,
E
saunz peine e sanz
dolur,
Deske venist icel
jour
line95Ke de eus issuz fussent
Tant ke acomplir pussent
Par
numbre tant de
compainnie
Cume furent kaun
par
folie
E par orguil del ciel
cheïrent
line100E en
enfern descendirent.
Pus
fussent
glorifiez
Tut sanz morir, ne le
dotez,
Si biaus, si clers, e sanz
travail,
Come fust lores
ly
solail,
line105Si cum avant vus ai cunté,
E pus au ciel fussent
munté.
Dunke ne ad ici
grant leesce,
Grant
seingnerie, e
grant hautesce
Pur aver ciel en
heritage,
line110E li e trestut sun lygnage?
Mes deus leys furent asis
A Adam en paraïs,
E si vus dirrai byen queles.
La une fu la natureles,
fol. 105vKe fere dust
naturelement
line116Trestut le commandement,
Kant ke Deu out
comandé.
La positive fu nomé,
Ceo ke il defent al
homme:
line120“Ne mangez pas de la pomme
Del arbre ke vus est deveez,
Kar sachez si la
mangez
Tost murrez en fin de mort
Sanz
solas e sauns
confort.
line125E si vus le
comandement
ne passez,
La seignorie tute averez
Ke en paraïs est e en terre,
Tut sanz anui e sanz contrere.”
Des joyes de paradis
—
line130Asez plus ke ne devis —
Avoit Adam la seysine.
Alas! Come tost ele decline,
Sa bunté, e sa valur.
Mis nus ad en grant
dolur
line135Kant il la pomme mangea.
Ambedeus les leys trespassa
—
E naturele e positive —
Par sa femme, la cheitive,
A ki
obeir plus
desirout
line140Ke a Deu mames ne fesout.
Ore est Adam enjeté,
De paraïs
desherité;
De joye mis est a dolur
En travail e en sywor.
line145Par morir perdra la
vie.
Ou querra
il mes
aÿe
Quant perdu ad par jugement
Trestut sun heritement?
Par peché e par outrage
line150Perdu ad sun heretage.
Trop fu gref icel pecché
Quant trestut fu entuché.
Kant ke desuz le ciel
fu
En perdi de sa
vertu.
line155Deu ne fist chose si haute
Ke ne abeschast par sa defaute.
Ke
terriene chose
fust,
Chescune chose sun dreit eüst,
Ne fust pecché ke tant greyve.
line160Pecché, ad parole breve,
Est
defaute
apertement;
Defaute e pecché en un se entent.
Par defaute out tant de perte,
Kar defaute fust aperte.
line165Defaute aprés defaute a
fine
Fet par dreit
perdre seysine.
Encore en
la curt
le rey
Use
l’um icele
ley.
Ore sunt de
mal
entecchez,
line170Serfs devenunt de pecchez,
Ke plus francs furent avant
Ke rien en
terre
seyt vivant.
Ore est
sun serf
apertement,
A ki servise il atent,
line175Pus ke il le sert en
servage,
E sanz franchise a en
estage.
Mes serf ne put clamer mie
Herité
ne
seingnorie.
Pus ke
serf est
devenu,
line180Sun heritage est retenu,
Ne il n’iert
riens
entendu
Ne en nule curt respundu.
Dunke li coveint autre quere,
Si il vuet sun dreit conquere,
line185Ke seit de franche naciun,
Ke pur li mustre sa reysun
Pur clamer sun heritage,
E ke il seit de sun lignage,
Issint ke il seit verrai homme,
line190E ke il
ne mangeast de la pomme.
fol. 106rSanz pecché le estust
venir
E tutes les treis leys tenir:
Celes
deus de
paraïs
E cele al
Munt
Synaïs,
line195Ke a Moÿsen doné fu,
Ke unkes tenue ne fu
De
nul ke pecché
feÿst.
E ki
est dunke ke
si cler veïst;
Ki de cel homme put penser
line200E cel
miracle nuncier?
Ici reposera
mun
dit;
Si vus dirrai
un
respit
Ke bien acord
a ma
matire;
Pur ceo le voil ici escrire.
line205Uns Reis estoit de grant poer,
De bon voler, e de
grant saver,
E cist
Reis un Fiz
avoit
Ke trestut ses sens
savoit.
Tut autre tel cum fu le Pere
line210E si est
le Fiz en la
manere:
De un saver e de une pussance,
De un voler e de une sustance.
Par ki il trestut fesoit
Ke a sun reaume pendoit;
line215Kant ke il vout comencer,
Par sun Fiz le vout chever.
Quatre filles out cel Rey,
E chescune
dona par
sey
Sun aferant de
sustance,
line220De sun sen,
e de sa pussance,
E a chescune
deversement,
Solum ceo ke a lui
apent.
De sa sustance ad
chescune,
E trestut est sustance une,
line225K’a sun
Pere avenoit.
Ne saunz ceo il ne poit
Sun reigne en pes governer,
Ne ové
dreiture
justizer.
Bien
est ke lor
nuns
recorde:
line230La premere est Misericorde,
La fille al Reys eynné;
La autre
si est
Verité,
E Justize la tierce
aprés;
La quarte seur ad a
nun Pes.
line235Sanz ces
quatre ne put mie
Reis governer grant seignurie.
Icest
Reis dun jeo
vus di
Un serf out ki ert mauballi,
Ki par un tres graunt
forfet
line240Ki vers sun seingnur out
fet,
Par esgard de jugement
Fu mis a mut gref turment
E livré a ses enemis,
Ki en prisun
le unt
mis,
line245Kar
de rien ne urent envie
For de aver lui en lur baillie.
Mut le unt mis en prisun dure,
De lui penir ne unt mesure.
Misericorde ad ceo
veüe,
line250Tantost
est de pité esmüe,
Ke mes ne se put
tenir.
Devaunt le Rei vodra venir
Pur demustrer sa reysun
E pur
deliverer le
prisun.
line255“Biau Pere,” fet
ele, “Entendez:
Ta fille sui, bien le savez,
Pleine sui de humilité,
De douçour,
e de
pité.
De tun dun le ay, biau duz Pere;
line260Kar oyez dunke ma preere
Pur cel dolent, chetaf prisun,
Ke venir put
a
raunçun,
Ki en mi
ses
enemis
Avez en greve prisun
mis,
line265Ki par premesse le
traherunt,
Par unt trespasser le firunt.
fol. 106vLa premesse li
fauserent,
Kar fausetté tut tens querent.
E rendu lur seit fauseté,
line270E le prisun a moy bayllé.
Kar tu es Reis de humilité,
De
merci, e de
piti,
E jeo ta fille sui ensnee,
Sur tuz tes eovres nomee.
line275Ne dirray ke ta fille fusse
Si de lui
pité ne
usse.
Merci par dreit deit aver;
Ta merci
le deit
sauver,
E ta tre douce pité
line280Le deit mettre a saveté.
Pur lui ‘merci’ crïerai
Tant ke merci troverai.”
Iste vu Verité ad
ceo oÿe,
Ke Misericorde se plie
line285E vuet en fin le serf sauver
E de prisun deliverer.
Devant le Rei ci est
aresté:
“Biau Pere,” ceo dist Verité,
“Tel merveil ay
oÿe
—
line290Ne pus tenir ke ne le
die —
De Misericorde ma
sorur!
Ke vodera par sa douçsour
Cest prisun en fin sauver,
Ke Verité veut dampner.
line295Beau Pere, ta fille sui,
De
ta sustance
issui;
Ne deit Misericorde estre oÿe
Si Verité ne la guie.
Si ma suur pust sauver
line300Tuz pur queus
vodra prïer,
Tu ne serroys pas duté,
Ne nul meffet comparé.
Mes tu es reis si veritables,
De
corage si
estables,
line305Ke riens ne quers si
verité,
E cil demaunde pité
Ke pité de sey ne out mie;
Ne put aver autre aÿe.
Jugement le estut suffrir
line310E tut sun meffet punir.”
E Justize
amunt
se leve
Si ad idit
parole
breve:
“Ta fille sui, biau duz Peres,
E tu es Reys, Dreit Justizeres.
line315Tut tes
fes sunt pleins de sens,
E dreitureles ta
jugemens.
Celui serf dunt parler
oy
Jugement ad deservi,
Kar taunt cum il franc esteit
line320Misericorde od sei avoyt,
E Verité, e Justise,
E Pes, trestut a
divise;
Pus
s’en parti
a
sun gré;
Tut de lui memes ad surté
line325E couplé est
a descord.
Pur ceo deit
suffrir la mort,
Kar eynces
le
premis.
Ore seit en prisun mis,
Kar Justise le destine
line330Deske Verité le determine,
Ke tu le voilles
relever
E devan ta curt juger.
Kar Justize ne esparnie
Riens ke Verité li die.
line335A chescun dune par saver
Kant ke
deit
par
dreit aver.”
Ore est Verité de
mal atisce,
E dampner le veut
Justice;
Ne i ad nul
ki
bien
li die,
line340Pus ke pité ne est oÿe.
A,
dolenz e
malurez,
De tute parz en est grevez!
fol. 107rNe put garir
ou ke il iaut,
Ke le enemi ne le asaut,
line345Trestut
le despoylle nu
De sun sen e de sa vertu.
E lui e trestut sun lignage
Ad mis en si
vil
servage
E trespasser li
fet
adés.
line350E Justize, vient aprés,
Tuz
les juge en
verité,
Saunz merci
e sanz
pité.
Ne Pes ne put demurer.
Del paÿs le estuit torner,
line355Kar Pes ne demurt mie
En guerre ne en atye,
Ne Misericorde ne est nomé.
Tut unt le paÿs issilé.
Ni ad rien ke seit remis,
line360Ke a destructiun ne seit
mis.
Tuz les unt undes neez;
Ni ad ke uit
almes
sauvez:
Ceo est, Noé e ses treis fiz —
Iceus
en le arche
sunt gariz —
line365E lur femmes ke od eus sunt;
Plus ni ad remis del mund.
Hidur est de penser ent
De si
crüel
jugement!
E tut est dreit e verité,
line370Mes saunz pes e sanz pité.
Adunke dit
Pes al Rei,
“Biau Pere, entendez ore a
mei.
Ta fille sui sanz dutance,
Yssue
de ta
sustance;
line375Devaunt te dei estre oÿe.
Mes deus
seurs
me unt guerpie.
Sanz moy funt lur jugement,
Ne Misericorde ensement
Unkes apelé ne fu;
line380Pur iceo ne put aver refu
Nul homme ke seit en vie;
Pur iceo sui d’eluc fuïe.
O tey fray demorance
Deske icele destance
line385Ke entre mes surs est
hastie
Par Pes seit a
fin
chevie.
Mes purquei serreit asise
Ne Verité ne Justise,
Si pur la pes nun garder?
line390Justise ne ad autre mester
Mes
ke la pes seyt
sauvee.
Serrai jeo dunke refusee,
Kant tuz biens sunt par mey fez,
E pur aver moy retrez?
line395Mes sauvé ne sui jeo mie
Si Misericorde ne est oÿe.
Mun dit deit porter grant fes,
Kar tu es Prince de Pes.
Pes est la fin de tuz biens;
line400Ke Pes ad, ne lui faut
riens,
Ne sanz Pes ne vaut aver
Ne richesce ne saver.
Ki pur Pes aver se travaille
En Pes avera defynaylle.
line405E
pur ceo Pes deit estre oÿe
Pur icel serf ke merci crie.
De nus quatre vus dirray
Une resun ke est verray.
Pus ke quatre sunt assises
line410De fere dreitureles justises,
E deivent tutes
communement
Fere
un sul
jugement;
Jugement ne avera record
Deske il seent de un
acord.
line415En un les
covyent consentir
E pus le jugement formir.
Cest jugement ert repelez,
Kar sanz nus ne ert
pas jugez.
fol. 107vSaunz nus est
trop flaelé;
line420Pur ceo deit trover pité.
Sire, lur voil
avez
fet,
Ore seit le nostre
retreit,
Ke
Misericorde tuz
jurs crie
Pur le serf, ke il eit aÿe,
line425E jeo le païs fuïr
voil
Deskes il seent de un aquoyl.”
Le Fiz al
Rei ad ceo veü,
Le contec ke est asmu
Ke ne ert sanz lui
eschevé
line430Ne entre ses suurs pes levé,
E dit, “Biau Pere, tun Fiz sui,
De tun sen e
de ta
vertu.
Ta sapïence sui clamé,
E de tei sui taunt
amé
line435Ke
par moy feïstis
le
mund,
Dunt tes fez tutes mes
evres sunt.
Un sumes nus
en
sustance,
En dignité, e en pussance.
Tun voler tut tens fray,
line440Justizeres, Rei verray.
Del contec, ke
tant
descorde,
Tant me ad es mu
Misericorde
Par reisun ke ele ad mustré
Ke
del serf ai
grant pité.
line445Misericorde merci crie;
Premerement serra oÿe.
Trestut sun voler ore en fray;
A Verité la acorderay.
Del serf prenderay la vesture
line450En verité e en dreiture;
Sustendray le jugement,
Kaunt ke
a Justize
apent;
E Pes en terre fray crïer
E Justize e Pes entre bayser.
line455E issint
fineray la guere
E sauveray ta
gent
en terre.”
Cil ke cest
ensample entent
Put bien
ver
apertement
Ke iceste signefiance
line460Est en Deu une pussance:
De
Deu le Pere est
tute
riens;
Par Deu le Fiz sunt fet tuz biens;
En
Deu le Seint
Esperiz
Est tute rien escompliz.
line465Un Deu saunz divisiun,
Une sustance e plus nun.
Sa
beneiscun a
trestuz doint
Ky cest escrit entendrunt.
Seignurs, bien oÿ
avez
line470Pur quei le mund fu criez,
Pur quei, a quei tut fu fet;
Pus coment
Adam le
ad
forfet,
Coment
par nule
pussaunce
De sei ne avereit
recoverance;
line475Ne angele nel
put rechater,
Ne homme de mort relever.
En
tute fin dunke
covenist
Ke Deus homme devenist:
Homme pur la mort suffrir,
line480E Deu de
mort revenir;
Kar autrement peri eüst
Tut kant ke al
secle fust.
Oyez ici
de si
grant amur,
Si grant pité, si grant dousçur,
line485Ke Deu de ciel
descendi
Pur sa
owaille ke
il perdi.
Nonaunte
nef il
lessa
Pur une quere s’en ala;
Dunke ni ad ci
bon
Pastur
line490E merciable
Seignur.
Ki du cel
Seignur
pensast,
Ki tant amur li demustrast
Ke aprés sei le veut furmer
E pus pur li sey vout doner,
fol. 108rEynz li dust li quer
crever
line496Ke sun comand trespasser.
Ore oyez haute
dousçur
De la venue al Creatur.
A Abraham est le
don fet.
line500Les prophetes le unt
retret —
Ceo est, Moÿses e Jonas,
Abacuc
e Elyas,
Jeremie
e
Daniël,
Ysaÿe
e Samuël,
line505E David e Eliseu —
Ke dïent de la
venue
Deu.
Tuz recorder ne pus
mie,
Mes oyez le dit Ysaÿe:
“Un Enfant
nus est nez,
line510Un
Fiz nus est dunez.
Sun empire sustendra,
E soun nun nomé serra
Merveillus e Conseillere,
Deu le Fort e Deu
le Pere
line515Del secle ke vient aprés;
Sun dreit nun est
Prince de Pes.”
Ceos sunt les nouns, en verité,
Ke les prophetes l’unt
nomé.
Ore entendez a moy
tus:
line520Sun premer non est
Merveillus.
Merveille ne est taunt
oÿe,
Ne ja n’iert nul jour de vie,
Pur tens
ke put
avenir
Cum Deus homme devenir.
line525Kar ki ke veit
un enfaunt
Ke de sorfet
eüst
taunt,
Ke il eüst treis pes e treis mains,
E un autre ke eüst meins,
Ke li fausit poyn
ou
pé,
line530E ke il fussent issi
né,
Fussent
il dunke
merveillus?
Nanil! Mes ke
a
estrus
Le un
ad defaute de
nature,
E le autre
surkark
a demesure.
line535Merveillus n’iert
nomé,
Mes mustres sunt
apelé.
Mes cil
merveillus
serreit:
Si un homme issi
aveit,
Ke de homme eüst tute la nature,
line540Saunz defaute, e a mesure,
Si
ke verrais homme
fust,
Ke
nule defaute en
se
ne eüst,
E pus
fust verrai
cheval.
Impossible est de estre tel!
line545Mes ki teus
le pust trover
Merveillus le put clamer.
Plus merveille est — e mil
itant —
La merveille del Enfaunt
Ke Ysaÿe ad nuncié,
line550Ke est verray homme e verray
Dé.
De humanité ne li faut rien,
E ke il
est plein
Deu, ceo veum ben.
Par
lui tute rien
est fet,
E sanz lui nule rien n’est.
line555Kar
defaute n’est pas fet,
Come avaunt vus ay retret.
Autre Deu ne ad for li,
Ke
en terre
descendi,
Ki,
desouz
autre
vesture,
line560Pleinement prist la nature
De la nostre humanité
E devient homme en verité.
E pus ke homme voleit estre,
De femme le
covient
nestre
line565Pur recevre la nature
De humeine creature.
Mes Deu ne pust
herberger,
Fors en biau lu e en cler;
En beau lu fu il
verraiment,
line570La ou il
del ciel descent.
fol. 108vEn un chastel bel e graunt,
Bien ferm e avenaunt,
Kar ceo est
le
chastel de amur,
De solaz,
e de
dousçur.
line575En la marche est asis,
Ne ad regard des
enemis,
E si vus dirrai pur quele chose.
La tour est si ben enclose
De fossez parfund e haut;
line580Ne ad regarde nul
esaut,
Kar ele est si haut assise
Sur
une roche, dure
e bise
E bien polie de ci ke aval,
Ou habiter ne pout nul mal,
line585Ne engin ne put
geter
Ke rien le pusse
grever.
Envirun ad quatre
tureles;
En
tut le mund ni
ad plus
beles.
Pus i ad treis bailles en tur,
line590De fort mur e de bel atur.
Cum vus deviser le orrez,
De biauté i ad
plus
asez
Ke lange ne put descrire,
Quer penser, ne bouche dire.
line595Sur roche neyve sunt fermez,
Enclos de parfund
fossez,
E aurné de
kerneyaus,
Bien poliz e bons et beaus;
Barbecanes i ad seet
line600Ke par bon egin sunt fet.
Chescune ad porte e tour,
Ou ja ne
faudra
succur,
Ne ja ni averad annuy
Ki la vient quere refuy.
line605Li chastel est bel
e
bon,
Dehors depeynt e envirun
De treis colours
deversement.
E si
est vert le
fundement,
Ke a la roche se joynt.
line610De grant dousçur ne faut
poynt,
Kar bien di ke douce verdur
Ne pert jamés sa culur.
La colur ke est en mylu
Si est ynde e si est blu,
line615Ke meine
colur est nomé;
De beauté est enluminé.
La tierce colur par ensun
Les kernieus covre envirun
Ke tut
covre le
doynjon,
line620Taunt reflambé envirun,
E plus
est vermail
ke ne est rose
E piert une ardonte chose.
Jamés ne vient male horee,
Mes de dousçur i ad plentee.
line625Dedeynz est le chastel
blauns,
Plus ke neyf ke seit
negiauns,
Ke gette si grant clarté
De long la tur e de lé.
En mi la tur plus hauteyne
line630Est surdaunt une funteyne,
Dunt issent quatre russelles
Ke bruient par les graveles
Ke les fossez ount empliz;
Mout i ad joie e deliz.
line635Saunté purreit recovrer
Ki en
cel ewe pust
plunger.
En cele bele tur e bone
I ad
de yvuirre une
trone
Ke plus ad en se
blanchur
line640Ke en mi le
esté le beau joer.
Par engin est compassez;
Al munter i ad seet degrez,
Ke par ordre cochez sunt;
Ni ad si bele ryen
el mund.
line645Le arc du ciel en tur
s’estend
O ses colurs que
li
apend.
Unkes si bele
cherre
Ne out rei ne emperere.
fol. 109rAsez plus beauté
aveyt
line650Ou Deu reposer voleyt;
Dunke ni ad si
beau
chastel:
Unke mes ne fu nul tel,
Ne jamés autre tel ne
serra,
Kar Dompnedeu le devisa
line655A sun eus pur herberger;
Mut eime le lu e le
tient cher.
Ceo est le chastel de delit,
De
solaz e de
respit,
De esperance e de amur,
line660De
refui e de dousçur:
Ceo est le cors de la Puscele.
Unkes autre ni out for cele
(Ne jamés autre ne serra,
Taunt come le munde durra),
line665Ke de taunz vertuz fust
garnie
Come la douce Virgine Marie.
Assise est
en la
marche,
Si nus
est escu e
tarche
En contre nos
enemis,
line670Ke nus agaytuent tut dis.
La roche ke est bien polie,
Ceo est le quer Marie,
Ke unkes en mal ne molist
Mes a Deu servier
se prist
line675E
sa seinte virginité
Garda en humilité.
Le fundement ke est nomé,
Ke a la roche est fermé,
Ke est depeint od colour
line680De si tres bele
verdour,
Ceo est la fey de la Virgine,
Ke sun seint quer enlumine.
La verdour ke tant est bele
Sa fey tut tens renovele,
line685Kar fey est apertement
De tutes vertuz fundement.
E pus est la meine colour
De
beauté e de
dousçour.
Ceo est la signifiance:
line690Ke en
tendrour e en
esperance
Servi tut tens sun Seignur
En humilité
e en
douçur.
E la colour par ensun,
Ke tut kevre par
envyrun,
line695Ceo est cele ke est
vermaylle —
Ni ad nule ke tant vaylle —
Ceo est
la seinte
Charité,
Dunt ele est tute enluminé
E esprise
del fu de
amur
line700De servir sun Creatur.
Les quatre tureles en haut
Ke gardent la tour de essaut,
Dunt
habiter ne
pount
nuls mals,
Sunt quatre vertuz cardinals:
line705Ceo est, Force e Temperaunce
E
Justize e
Prudence.
A quatre portes sunt porters;
Ne put rien si bien nun
entrers.
Les treis bailles del chastel,
line710Ke overz sunt a kernel,
En compas sunt
enviroun
E
defendunt le
doynjoun.
Cele al plus haut estage
Signefie
sun
puscelage,
line715Ke unkes de rien ne fu
blemie,
Tant esteit
de
grace replenie.
Le bail
ke est en
mie fermé
Signefie sa chasteté.
Pus
est la foreine
baille,
line720La sue seinte
espusalle.
Bailles a dreit nomé sunt,
Kant en baillie la Dame
unt,
Ke, sanz per, est singulere:
Virge
chaste,
Espuse e Mere.
fol. 109vPar un de eus
estut
passer
line726Ki en le
mund se vuet sauver.
Les barbecanes
seet
Ke hors des bailles
sunt fet
Ke bien gardent le chastel —
line730E de sete e de quarel —
Ceo sunt celes seth vertuz,
Dunt seth
vices
sunt confus:
Ceo est Orguil, apertement
De tuz maus le comencement,
line735Ke vencu est e maté
Par sa seinte Humilité;
E Charité confunde Envie,
E Abstinence Gloutenie;
E par
sa seinte
Chasteté
line740Lecherie
est maté;
E Avarisce, ke mout blesce,
Est vencu par sa Largesce;
E Pacïence, ke veint Ire,
Cele ke
sey meïmes
decyre;
line745E espiritale Leesce
Confunde la male Tristesce.
La funtaine
i surt
de grace
Ke tut le chastel enbrasce.
Dé sa grace ad
doné
line750E par mesure devisé,
Mes tant la Pucele
ama
Ke pleine grace li dona,
Dunt
la grace ke
surunde
Fet socur a tut le munde.
line755Pur ceo est a dreit clamee
Sur tutes autres benuree.
E queles
sunt
les
fessez
Fors volentrive povertez,
Dunt nul engin ne put geter
line760Ke
le chastel pusse
grever,
Dunt li Diables est vencu
E sun poer ad perdu?
Kar einz out
poer
si grant
Ke unkes nul homme vivaunt
line765Ne pout en contre
lui ester,
Ke en enfern ne le fet geter.
Mes ceo est la Dame gente
Dunt Deu dist a la serpente
Ke une femme vendreit
line770Ke tut
chef quassereit.
Beneite seit la
benuree,
Sur tutes autres honuree,
Ke est
bele e
bone,
De ki
alme fist Deu
throne
line775A sun eus pur herberger;
Char prist de lui pur sauver
Sun puple de la prisun:
Ce est
la nostre
garisun.
Ceste Dame est bele asez,
line780Kant ele ad tant
de buntez,
Plus ke autre
creature,
Mes kant le Solail de Dreiture
Denz
sun seint cors
enumbra,
Mil itaunt
enbelie
la ha.
line785Par la porte close entra;
Al issir close la lessa.
De ceo ni est
contac ne plait,
Kar kant ke Deu vout, si est fait.
Franche Pucele,
Reÿne,
line790De refui forte fermine,
A tey est ma alme venue,
Ke a ta porte huche e hue,
Huche e hue, huche
e crie,
“Douce Dame, aÿe, aÿe!
line795Reÿne Dame, overez, overez!
Un poy poser
me
lessez
De cele grace ke garist
Les povres en esperist.
De hors tun
chastel
sui asis
line800De treis de mes enemis:
Ceo est, le Diable e le Mund
E ma Char, ke me somund
fol. 110rTut
adés de mesfere;
Mut funt a ma alme contrere.
line805Grant parlement unt tenu:
Li Diables est primes venu,
Ke
treis oyz
en moy se dresce,
Ceo est, Orguil, Ire, e Peresce;
Le Mund ad deus oiz
asise,
line810Ceo est, Envie e Coveitise;
E la Char, ke taunt se plie
A fol Delit e Glutonie.
De damage
me unt
esmu:
Champion su
rescru.
line815Si ta grace ne me aÿe
Tute ay perdu la mestrie.
Vus, ke febles redrassez,
Fa moy poser a fossez
Ou le chastel est estable,
line820E Charité est conestable.”
Del chastel un poy
ay dit;
De plus dire en ay
delit,
Kar tuz les biens ke sunt el mund
Del
chastel venuz
sunt.
line825Ceo est la eschele, bien le
di,
Ou
Deu du cel
descendi;
De lui prist humanité,
Dunt covri
sa
deité.
La verge porta
la
flur,
line830La Virge
sun Creatur,
E si
est le Enfaunt
nez,
E cil Fiz nus est donez.
Icest Enfant est Mervillus,
Ke issi est
nez pur
nus.
line835Merveille n’est tant,
ceo me semble,
Cum deus natures joindre ensemble,
E
ke chescune
apertement
Eit tut ceo ke a
lui apent,
Ke nul
amenusé ne
seit,
line840Mes ke chescun eit sun
dreit.
Ceo est
Jhesu le
beneit,
Ke de ciel
descendeit
Pur ses seurs acorder
E sun
prisun
delivrer.
line845Natures deus i ad, ceo est
la summe:
Verrey
Deu est,
e
verrey homme.
Beneyt seyt la
Pucele,
Par ki savum la novele
De Jhesu Crist, le fruit de vie;
line850Lors est Misericorde oÿe.
En ciel des angeles est le chaunt
“Loange e glorie al Tut Pussaunt!”
E pes en terre est
crié
A gent de bone volunté.
line855Lors si fu pes
en terre —
En tut le mund ni out
guerre,
Ni out
contec, ne
descord,
Mes tuz
furent de
un
acord
E sous
un prinzce
governé
line860Kaunt
nostre Sire fu
né.
Augustus
Cesar se
noma
Ki
comaund par tut
ala.
Bien deit
pes estre
tenue
A cuntre sa
haute
venue,
line865Ki pes sustient e
pes guie.
Mout
est nature
enbelie
Kaunt Nature naturaunce
A nature est ignoraunce
Kaunt
nature est
naturee;
line870Lors est nature puree
Cent taunt plus ke einz n’estoit
Einz ke Adam forfet avoit.
Icesti est de grant pussance
Si
est de fraunche
nessaunce;
line875Cist pout bien pur nus
pleider
E nos dreitures dereynner.
Ore avez oÿ trestuz
Cum cist Enfaunt est Merveillus.
fol. 110vE veez,
pur Deu le Pere,
line880Cum il est bon Conseyllere.
Ki vest ici
un homme
Ke emperour fust
de
Rome,
De sun paÿs engetez,
E desça
lé munz
fust demorez;
line885E pus fussent les munz si
haut
Ke par engin ne par ensaut
Ne put hom les monz passer,
Ne nule autre veie aler;
Ke a
meiseise le
veïst
line890E a
consayl lui deïst,
“A quei vas tu
si
mendifs?
Returnez en tun paÿs.
Va par tut tes amis querre
Si deraignes vostre terre.”
line895Icest consail bon
fust,
Si
achever le
pust,
Mes verray consail n’est ceo mie
Pus ke il ne ad prou
ne aÿe.
Mes li douz Jhesu beneit,
line900Il est Conseiler adreit.
Cum il vient
oÿ
avez:
Homme il trova
esgarez,
De paraÿs engeté jus;
Ne jamés n’ust
venu
sus
line905Par lui
ne par sa pussance,
Ne fust de Deu la redressaunce,
Ke sun Fiz vout enveër
En le
mund pur sa
gent sauver.
Trestuz nus vient conseiller
line910E la voie al
ciel mustrer.
Mes Deus est plein de verité,
Ne vout riens for equité,
Ne vout sauver ne garir
For ceus ke lui voleint servir.
line915Regardez, homme, en sa
pussance,
E au
grandur de
sa
finance,
Ou circumscription
n’est mie,
E veez cum il se humilie,
Ki de femme deigna nestre
line920E verray homme pur nus
estre.
Et pus sun consayl regardez,
Cum il nus meine a sauvetez
En si tre douce manere,
E si nus dist, “Beau duz Frere,
line925Jeo te vei issi,
esgarez
E de tun paÿs exillez,
E si veez apertement
Ke de te n’as recoverement.
Ne seez en desperaunce,
line930Ne de ceo ne eiez dotance,
Ke
si crere moy
volez,
Tun heritage tost averez.
Oyez moy tant solement
E fetes mun comandement.
line935Mun jug est suef a sentir,
Mun fes leger a sustenir.
Pité pur tei me ad esmu;
Pur tei sui ici
venu.
Jeo te consail, suez
mey,
line940E jeo ta
bataille enprendray.
Primes,
pur tey
voyl enpleider
E tun dreit voil chalanger,
Kar jeo sui de tun lignage,
Si pus clamer tun heritage.
line945E sui de franche naciun,
Si ert oÿe ma reisun.
Pur tei prenderay
la bataille,
Si averez bone definaille,
Kar
jeo en fin le
venkeray
line950E tun dreit recoveray.
De rien ne tei estut penser
Furs Deu e tun prume amer.”
Deu! Quel douçur e
quele franchise,
Kant cil ke tute rien justise
line955Tant nus mustra amisté
E ensample de humilité.
fol. 111rMes cel
ensample est poy tenue
E relement en
munde
veüwe,
Kar le munde tut dis
eyme
line960La chose ke est mundeyne,
Mes li esperit de charité
Tut tens eyme humilité.
Kant le mundain se done al munde,
E sun aver li surunde,
line965Ne pense fors de
sun aver,
E plus aver ensemble aver.
Kant
aver ad la
mestrie,
Si ferm en se laz
le
lie
Ke il devient fiers e orgoillus,
line970A tuz ses
veisins surfetus.
Riens ne coveite largesse,
Mes
seignorie e
hautesse.
Par orgoil ad
oblié
Le ensample de
humilité.
line975Iceus Jhesum ne siwent mie,
Kar lur fet lur contrarie;
Sun
consail ne
velunt crere.
E coment
dunke, e
par
quel afere,
Veolunt il
rien
demaunder
line980Del heritage Deu aver,
Kant il funt kant ke il defent
E rien ne funt de ceo
ke il aprent,
Kar il querent
la
pussaunce
Ne veoleint rien de humiliance?
line985Pur iceo
cheÿ Lucifer
Hors du ciel deskes en enfer.
Pur ceo me dout ke cil
cherrunt,
Tuz ceus ke teus
evres funt.
Mes pur ceo ne di jeo mie
line990Ke homme ne put aver grant
manancie,
Grant seignorie e grant hautesce,
Chasteaus e boys
de
grant largesce,
E si
put Deu
bien
servir
E sun voler acomplir,
line995Pus ke il vith en humilité,
En dreiture, e en charité,
Kar Dompnedeu n’ad rien tant cher
Cum fin amur de quer entier.
Ore put acun
demaunder,
line1000“Coment vient il
pur nus pleider?
E coment la bataille enprist
E nostre dreit coment conquist?”
Oyez
debonerement
E jeo vus dirray bien coment.
line1005Kant Jhesus el mund
fu né,
Del Diable fu taunt
celé
Ke il ne sout de sun venir,
Mes quidout par tut seignurer,
Cum il einz
fet
aveit,
line1010Mes sun poïer li est
tolet.
Mut bien le vit home
en terre,
Mes il ne saveit par
quel afere
Homme vint
en terre
nestre
E tuz jors sanz pecché estre.
line1015E,
merveillaunt, dist, “Ki es tu?
Es tu dunke le Fiz Deu?
Tut cest
mund te
voil doner
Si tu me veus aorer.”
E Jhesu dist, “Va, Satanas!
line1020Tun Seignur
ne tempteras.”
E cil dist dunke, “Ke veus tu fere?
Prince sui de ceste tere.
Lunge tens ay eü la seisine
Par le grant du
Rey
Hautime.
line1025For sul ke tun consayl ne
vey
Ne ne
conuz tun
secrey,
Mut i averez a
fere
Si de moy veus
rien
conquere.
E si de te pussance ne eye,
line1030Quides tu
toler ma preye?
Nay!
Le covenant
est fermez,
En la curt Deu cyrografez,
Ke si il le comaund
Deu passast
Od moy tut tens demorast
fol. 111vE morreit en fin de
mort,
line1036E Deu ne veut fere nul
tort,
Mes tendra
le
covenaunt
Ke en sa curt fu fet avaunt.”
A ceo respundi
Jhesu,
line1040“Le covenaunt fu bien tenu,
Mes tu primes le frensistes
Kant en traÿsun diseïstes,
‘Tu ne morras pas pur taunt,
Ainz serrez cum Deu sachaunt.’
line1045Del fet fustes encheysun.
Ore agardez dunke raysun:
Veus tu de
covenaunt joyer
Kant covenaunt ne veus tener?”
“O!” dist
le
Diable, “Traÿ su,
line1050Kant en pleidant su vencu.
Dunt
tey vient tel
poyer,
Tel vertu, e tel saver
Ke od
moy osiez
enprendre
De
desputer
e reisun rendre?
line1055Tut ay perdu en pleidaunt,
Mes ne demurra
mie
entant;
Tute vers il ad
forfet,
Si ke il en ma prisun est,
Ne sanz redempcion pur lui
line1060Ne voil a tort estre
deseisi.”
E
dist Jhesu, le
Rey verray,
“Pur lui la redempcion
fray.”
“Si tu le veus achater,
Il te coustra mout cher.”
line1065“Cum
cher?” “Mes tant cum il vaut,
Enz ke il de ma prisun aut.”
E
dist li duz Jhesu
beneit,
“Ceo est
bien
reisun e dreit.
Encuntre dreit,
ne
voil jeo mie
line1070Toler tei rien
par mestrie.”
“Fai le moy dunc.” “Volenters:
Ke est ceo
dist
ke
tu quers?”
“Jeo te dirray
bien
sanz faille:
Rendez moy dunc ke tant vaille
line1075Cum fet ore tut le mund,
E kant ke aprés tuz jurs vendrunt.”
“Volenters tut ceo fray,
Kar meuz vaut mun petit dey
Ke teus cent mile munde ne funt,
line1080Od tute la gent ke i sunt.”
Le Diable respund
par fierté,
“Bien say
ke ceo
est
verité,
Kar le
mund pus
justiser
Mes tey
ne pus
aprucher.
line1085E veus tu
tun
dey doner
Pur si vil merz
achater?”
“Nay,” fet il, “mes
tut mun
cors.”
“Einz ki eyes cel
prisun hors,
Il te covient
mout
plus fere,
line1090Soffrir tant de
maus e contrere.
Si amender veus sun tort,
Il te estuit suffrir la mort,
Ou
taunt de peine,
o tant
dolurs,
Si cum il freit tuz
jors
line1095Si il fust od moy menaunt
E en enfern demoraunt.”
A donc respondi li duz
Jhesu,
“Kaunt ke as dit iert bien
tenu,
Kar Verité le divise,
line1100E pus le ad
jugé Justise.
Plus ifray ke dit n’avez,
Si iert li serf deliverez.”
Adunc quide li Adverser
Par sa mort trestut gaigner.
line1105Mes il fu pris, li glutun,
Cum est al heym le pessun
Kaunt le verm ad engolee,
Par
le fer est
ataché.
Ore esgardez la
dousçour
line1110Le consayl al Sauveour,
fol. 112rKe est
leger a suffrir,
Dunt gareysun pust venir.
Tuz nos meffez sur sei prent;
Pur nus est treité
vilement,
line1115Cil ke unkes ne out pecché,
Ne vilenie en lui trové.
En tuz les menbres ke homme a
Dunt Adam primes peccha,
Vout les
seuns
menbres pener
line1120Pur nos pecchez aquiter:
Pur la nostre iniquité
Sun chef des espines
coroné;
E pur les nos fous regarz
Ses oyez bendez de ambe parz.
line1125En la
face le escoperent,
E des
paumes le
ferirent.
E pur
nostre fol
parler
Bust eysil e vin
amer;
E pur nos mauveys fez foreinz
line1130Se fist percer peiz
e mayns.
Quei pout il plus pur nus fere?
Launge ne put taunt retrere,
Ne quer de homme taunt penser,
Cum il pur nus se fist
pener.
line1135Ki est cil ke
n’eüst pité
De si tres graunt amisté?
Teus sunt les cops de
bataille
Ke il pur nus suffri sanz faille.
Mes kant a la
mort
se livra,
line1140Mort par sa mort rechata,
Kar plus suffri cent itaunt
Peines e maus en moriaunt
Ke diables
eürent
poyer
De humeine nature
charger.
line1145Kar taunt eyme le alme le
cors
Ke jamés ne istrait fors
Pur nule peine endurer —
Si l’om le
vousist
detrencher —
Eynz ke le cors eit perdu
line1150De tuz cink
sens la vertu:
Ceo est, le oÿe
e
le ver
E le odur
e le
parler
E le taster
perdera
Einz ke le alme del
cors passera.
line1155Nature
ne put suffrir
Le alme einz del cors
partir.
Mes cil ke tut poier ad
Cent feiz ses peines dublad,
Kar kant en la Croiz pendi
line1160Od
haute voiz le alme rendi.
La
mustra ke
il
Deus estoit,
Nostre raunsçun dunke fesoit.
Vivant le cors fist ceo, sanz faille,
E issint
venqui
la bataille.
line1165Taunt ne put le Diable
charger,
Ne nature endurer.
A,
tres gloriose
Reÿne,
Marie, Mere e Virgine,
Pur pité ne puis nomer
line1170Tes
dolurs, ne rementiver!
Mes lors fu
tut
acomplie
De Symeon la prophecie:
Kar, plus
ke al
cors, fus naufree
Parmi l’alme
de un
espee.
line1175Mes cent fez ta
joie dubla
Kant il de
mort
resuscita.
Rienz n’eüst valu
la Passion
Ne fust la Resurrection.
Tu veïs ore apertement
line1180De la
bataille l’echevement
Dunt le Diable est vencuz
E le siecle sucuruz;
Nostre creance e nostre fey
Adunc demurra, Dame,
en tey.
line1185Trestuz furent en dotance,
Mes vus en ferme creaunce
fol. 112vDemoraistes saunz
doter;
Ta fei ne pout rien
changer.
Marie, Mere de pité,
line1190Pucele pleine de bunté,
En vus dunc fu
nostre creance,
Mes ore est nostre esperance
Ke pur nus le depriez
Par ki
sumes
rechatez.
line1195Oÿez del duz Jhesu,
Cum il par sa grant vertu
En bien nus ad consaillé,
E cum il pur nus ad
plaidé,
E cum il pur nus combati,
line1200E coment sa
bataille
eschevi.
N’est cestui bon Consailler,
Ke issi
nus
achata
cher,
E ke
nus ad fet la
voie
Dunt venir purrums
a la joie
line1205Ke, par Eve, fu grant pose
A tuz estopé e enclose?
Ore agardez
en avaunt
Cum il est Deu Tut Pussaunt.
Si
orrez
apertement
line1210Ke estre ne put autrement.
Un Deu tute rien cria;
Icel
Deu nus
rechata.
Autre Deu ni ad for li.
Ce est le Deu dunt jeo vus di:
line1215Persones treis sunt
nomé,
Mes un Deu est en
unité.
En ses fez put homme saver
E la
pussance Deu
veër,
Kar
tuz ses fez
furent mellé
line1220De homesce e de divinité.
Ki de ses fez garde prent
Veër le put apertement.
Ki eüst ici
une
espeie
Bien trenchant e aceree,
line1225E homme en le fu le
meïst
Tant ke ardaunte le
feïst,
Taunt cum ardante fust
Nul ne serreit ke pust
Le fu partier
de
l’acer,
line1230Ne le acer de le fu
severer.
E ki de la
espeie
ferreit
Deus natures i trovereit:
Le acer trenche par nature,
E le fu ard; ceo est
dreiture,
line1235E tut de une espeie ist.
Ausi est
de Jhesu
Crist.
Deus natures
ad
pleinement,
De Deu e de homme vereiment.
As nuces de un sun
privé,
line1240En la Kane de
Galilee,
Un convivie
fist
Architriclin,
Kant le ewe chaungea
en vin.
Sis ydres i sunt posé,
Empler les de ewe ad comaundé.
line1245Cum homme empler les noma,
Cum
Deu le ewe en
vin chaungea,
E tuit iceo une hovre
fu
De hommesce
e de
verray Deu.
E
aillurs ou il
ala,
line1250Ou taunt de puple sui le a
Ke cinc mil hommes ad puz
De cinc pains e de pessuns deus;
E de relef ke est remis
Duze cophins sunt empliz.
line1255Cum homme le pain departi,
Cum
Deus les ad tuz
saci.
E de Lazere, regardez,
Kaunt il le ad
resuscitez
Ke, quatre jors al monument,
line1260Fu de mort tut
pullent;
Od haute voyz est
escriez,
“Lazere, kar ça hors venez.”
fol. 113rCum
homme a lui cria,
Cum
Deu le
resuscita.
line1265En tuz ses fez peut hom ver
Ke il est Deu, saunz
doter.
Cel Deu tute rien cria,
Ki en la Virge se enumbra.
En lui est nostre creance,
line1270Nostre fei, e nostre
esperance,
Persones treis en Trinité
E un sul Deu en unité.
Oï avez
apertement
Cum il est Deu omnipotent,
line1275Mes sa force ne put nul
dire,
Quer penser, ne clerc escrire.
Kar icest haut noun Jhesu
Ad en sei tant de vertu
Ke quant ke est en cel
hautisme,
line1280Ou en tere, ou
en abime
Se enclinent
a cel
seint nun;
Pur ceo ne put dire nul hom
Sun grant poer, ne sa force,
Mes
cum en rimant
l’escorce.
line1285Tucher
le voil apertement,
Solum ceo ke jeo atenc.
Kaunt le munde fu crié,
E Adam primes out
pecché,
Dunc out le Maufé tant
poër
line1290Ke del munde fist sun
voler,
Kar lui pur
ke le
munde fu fet
En
sun poër out
atret.
Taunt de poër dunc aveit
Ke prince del munde esteit;
line1295Ne
pur nule seintité,
Pur penaunce, ne pur bunté
Ne se pout nul tant pener
Ke en enfern ne le fist vener.
Mes la force Jhesu
Crist
line1300Le ad maté e desconfist.
Desconfist est apertement,
Kant
il quidout,
cum de autre gent,
De lui fere sun voler
E atrere a sun poër.
line1305Kant le
vit en la Croyz pendre,
La alme de lui quidout prendre,
Mes il menti, li traitur.
Enz est abatu a
sun
tur,
Kar la
seinte
deité
line1310Dekes en enfern le ad geté,
Ou il meïmes est alé
Od sa alme e sa deïté.
Les portes de enfern brusa,
Le poër al Diable esquassa.
line1315A enfern fist un grant mors
Kant
tuz les suns
estret hors,
Ke en sa venu crurent
E
de bon quer servi
le urent.
Tel poiër ne fu oÿ
—
line1320Ne ja, ne serra, fors de
lui,
Kar tut le greingnur poër
Ke fu en le munde fist quasser.
Le Maufé fuist le fort armé
Ke sa porte ad bien
gardé,
line1325Mes kant plus
fort survenoit,
Ses espoilles li ad tolet
E del reaume engeté;
En
enfern le ad
trebuché.
Pur iceo dit bien Ysaÿe,
line1330Ke dist en sa
prophecie
Ke il Fort nomé serreit.
Sa force nul ne pensereit:
Ne launge nel purreit dire,
Ne quer
penser
ne
descrire.
line1335Sa force fet a redoter,
E sa dousçur a
amer.
Icesti est nostre refui,
Nostre creance, e
nostre salu,
fol. 113vNostre fey, nostre
amur,
line1340Nostre aïe, e nostre honur,
Ke tant se vout humilïer
E sei doner pur nus sauver.
E un soul Deu
tout
ceo fist:
Pere e Fiz e Seint Esperist.
line1345Cum il est Fort oÿ avez,
Mes, pur Deu, ore escotez,
Entendez
avaunt le
cunte
Cum Ysaÿe nus recunte,
Ke sun nun nomé serreit
line1350Pere al puple ke vendreit
Al secle ke fust avenir.
Pur ceo voleit
al
mund venir,
Ke tutes seintes prophecies
En lui fussent
acomplies.
line1355Cum il fu Pere
bien l’orez,
E cum il nus ad engendrez.
En Adam trestuz peccherent,
E tuz od lui la pome
mangerent,
E tuz
ke de lui
engendré furent
line1360La malisçon ke il out
eürent,
Kar il urent
naturelement;
Ne purreit
estre
autrement:
Adam
nostre pere
estoit,
Charnelement
nus
engendroit.
line1365Mes icele engendrure
Fu a nus pesant
e
dure
Ne fust la grace Jhesu Crist,
Ke nus engendra en esperist.
Pur
Adam furent tuz
dampnez
line1370E par Jhesu resuscitez.
Il est a dreit nostre Pere;
Il nus engendra en la manere
Ke de sun saunc nus lava
E nostre
fraunchise
rechata.
line1375Unkes pere pur enfaunt
De fin amur ne mustra tant,
Kar kant il nus out
rechaté
E morz par sa mort delivré,
Dreit en enfern s’en ala.
line1380Treis jors
i demora
(Ceo
nus dit Seint
Augustin),
Dekes al tierz jur le matin.
Un
dimaine
resuscita
Kaunt la aube primes escreva.
line1385Od sei treit hors tuz les
suns
Ke unkes furent a nul tens,
Pus
ke Adam fu
crié
Deske il
fust
resuscité.
A ces deciples se mustra,
line1390Od
eus but
e mangia,
Quarante jours i demora,
A eus le reigne Deu precha,
Deskes al
Ascension.
Ou soens estoïent a
sun noun
line1395Tuz
ensemblé en un lu,
Dunke aparut a eus Jhesu
Pur esprover lur mescreance,
Kar tuz furent en dotance
Ke resuscité le virent
line1400E nepurkant nel crurent.
Mes sachez vus lur
duter
Fet nostre fei afermer,
Kar mut nus fist avantance
De Thomas la mescreance,
line1405Ke ne voleit pur nus hom
Crere la Resurrection,
Deske en ses
plaies
ses mains
mist,
Ke Longes de la lance fist,
E dunc dist il, “Tu es mun Deu.”
line1410“Veire, Thomas,” ceo dist
Jhesu,
“Tu le creis
kar
veü le as;
E ki
le creit e ne
le veit pas,
Eïent tuz
la
beneïsçun
Ke par ta creance te
dun.”
fol. 114rA cel
jour vout apertement
line1416La fei fermer a
tute gent.
Od ses disciples ad mangé,
Cum enceis fu acustimé,
E
devisa lur
aler,
line1420Ke il alassent al
mund precher
A universe creature —
Ceo est sul a homme, par dreiture —
E ke il
en le Fiz
Deu crussent
E
tuz baptizez
fussent
line1425En
noun del Pere e del Fiz
E del Seintisme Esperiz,
Kar ki baptizé
ne
serra
Jamés en
ciel ne
entra,
Mes li
creaunz e
li
baptizez
line1430Serrunt mis en
sauvetez.
Apertement nus ad mustré
Ke
nus
kevendra
estre resné.
Mes pus ke resné serrum,
Engendrure
averum,
line1435Ceo est, le ewe
del espirist,
Ou nus engendra Jhesu Crist;
E pus ke il nus ad engendré,
Nostre Pere est en verité,
E dunc sumus nus ses fiz.
line1440Certes mut fet ke cheitifs
Ke a cel
Pere ne se
done.
Il ne mangea
pas de
la pome;
Par li poüm bien clamer
Dreiture en
ciel
pur aver,
line1445Kar il ad la ley gardé —
Unkes un
point ne
ad
fausé —
Ke unke mes ne fu tenue
Deske a sa
seinte
venue.
Le premer hom vient de tere,
line1450Par ki
avium la guere.
Le autre du
ciel
est venu,
Ke nus ad la pes rendu.
Le premer hom
fu
charnal,
Ke a tut le mund fist grant mal;
line1455De paraïs fu engeté,
E li e trestut sun ligné,
Mes Jhesu Crist, nostre
Pere,
Nos heritez nus rend arere,
Ki de ciel est
venuz;
line1460De bas en haut nus leva
sus.
Ki de tere est, a tere ala;
Ki de ciel est, a
ciel munta;
Ceo fu a la Ascensiun,
Veant le puple envirun.
line1465La voye a ses seinz
ad fet
Par les nues, ou il s’en veit.
Vie e verité
e
voie,
Od sei mena
la
bele
proie;
Tuz les suens mena od lui,
line1470Ke de enfern
avoit ravi.
A la joie les mena
Ke nul
jour ne
faudera,
Ou il meint
ou il
avant
fu,
Od le
Pere, un sul
Deu,
line1475Persones treis en Trinité
E un sul Deu en unité.
Un Deu tutes choses
fist,
Pere e Fiz e Seint Esperit,
E si ad il
distinctiun
line1480De treis persones par nun,
Nepurkant un
sul
Deu dure,
Creatur de
creature,
A ki honur e glorie apent,
Sanz fin e sanz comensement.
line1485Cum il est Pere oÿ avez,
E si escoter le volez,
Bien orrez un poy aprés
Cum il est Prince de Pes.
En avant vus ai cunté
line1490Cum il est a
ciel munté.
Tut
autresi de loec
vendra
Kant il le
mund
juger vodra —
En deité, en alme, e en cors —
Pur tuz juger, vifs
e mors,
line1495Cum il soleit al mund aler.
Ses plaies vodra demustrer,
fol. 114vKe il pur le munde
suffri,
E cum pur nus fu
ledi,
Des escurges
fu
rumpi sun quir;
line1500Cum les Gius alerent
ferir;
E cum vilement fu mené,
Sun chief
des
espines coroné;
E cum il en
la
Croiz fu posé,
Ses peez, ses mains trespercé;
line1505E cum il fu al quer feru,
Dunt sanc e ewe est issu.
E dirra dunc a trestuz,
“Taunt en ay
suffert pur vus!”
Ne vaudra riens le playder,
line1510Le
respundre, ne le aposer.
Ne vaudra chastel,
ne tour,
Ne paleys, ne bel
atour;
Tutes
choses
perirunt
Ke des mains de hommes evre sunt.
line1515La tremblerunt les
peccheurs,
Croulanz lur denz
de pohurs,
Ke nus homme ne purra
dire.
Chescun verra sun martyre,
E devant lui sun jugement
line1520Escrit serra
apertement:
Tuz sez fez en mi sun frunt,
E les verrunt tuz ceus del mund.
E le
jour amer e
perilus
Orrunt cil
a cri
hydus,
line1525“Montaines, sur
nus chaiez!
A,
terres, kar nus
coverez,
Ke nus ne veoms la hydur
Del yre al
Creatur!”
Aprés ceo tel signes verrunt,
line1530Par laqueles
tute gent murrunt.
Devant Jhesu
dunke
vendra
Fu ke tut le mund ardra;
E ardera
tutes les
pleines
E les
desrupes
e les montaines.
line1535Ciel e tere enflamberunt;
Les elemenz desouderunt.
Par le fu ert le ir puré
E tutes ewes degausté;
Tut
le mund
purefiera.
line1540Ne
ja plus ewe ne serra,
Ne fu en le
mund
jamés ne avera
Kant cel fu esteint i serra.
Pus si veut Dompnedeu fere
Novel ciel e novele tere,
line1545Ne mie autres ke einz
fet ad,
Mes ceus en meillur
estat tendrat.
Les angeles du ciel dunc vendrunt
E
les busines
sonerunt.
Primes
leverunt, en
alme e en
cors,
line1550Tuz ke en Jhesu
sunt mors;
Iceus
ke sauvé
serrunt
A
deprimes
leverunt.
A ceus dirra nostre Seignur,
A grant joie e a grant dousçur,
line1555“Feim avoie, vus
me pustes;
A herberge vus
me
resustes;
Nu fu, vus
me
fublastes,
Malades, e vus
me
visitastes;
Seif avoy, e
vus me
enbeverastes;
line1560E en chartre
me confortastes.
Venez, mes fiz benurez,
Les joies de
ciel
recevez,
Ke a vos us agraié sunt
Del
comencement del
mund.”
line1565Adunc serrunt les bons ravi
A munt en le eir acontre lui.
Les mauveis en tere
serrunt,
La glorie Deu pas ne verrunt;
Mes a cel ravissement
line1570Releverunt communement,
Cil les cheitifs malurez,
Ke de pecché sunt chargez.
fol. 115rPesaunz, en tere
demorrunt
Deske la voiz del Juge orrunt,
line1575Od grant ire, hidousement.
Orrunt lur dure jugement:
“Alez, mauves, oveke
li Diable
Al feu
ke est nïent
esteingnable,
Kar el ne avez deservi
line1580De tuz les
evres de merci.”
En enfern trebucherunt,
Od diables
sanz fin
serrunt.
Li bons serrunt
glorifiez
En cors, en alme, en veritez,
line1585Kar
clers serrunt cume le solail.
Ne jamés plus
ne
averunt travail
Mes joie averunt ke sanz fin dure.
Mut furent nez a bon oure,
Ke a la feste purrunt venir
line1590Ki Deu vodra od
suens tenir.
Taunt
de joie
dunc
serra,
Ke tuz jours sanz fin durra,
Plus ke en quer ne put
descendre,
Ou oil veër, ou
oraille entendre,
line1595Ke Deus ad aparillé
A ceus ke de quer le unt amé.
La joie ne faudra jamés,
Adunc
est il Prince
de Pes.
Ore oyez des
mauveis,
line1600Cum il serrunt a mal
baillez,
Kar
ceus ke en
enfern serrunt
Jamés hors ne
isterunt,
Mes la tormentez serrunt
En le put, puant e parfund.
line1605Ne i
avera riens ke ne blesce;
La premere peine est
tristesce;
Chescun seur autre esterra,
Ke lur
dolur
doublira;
Le autre si ert tenebrur,
line1610La
tierce si ert puür,
La quarte, fu nïent esteignable,
E pus hidur de ver le Deable.
La rien del mund ke il
plus harrunt
Devant eus tuz jours
verrunt,
line1615E vermine de male plaist;
Ne verrunt rien
ke
lur plest.
Trestuz
jours sanz
fin plorunt,
Crossanz de
denz
rechinerunt.
Li un al autre donc dira,
line1620“Cheitifs, que fetes vus
de cea?
Mal eit
le oure ke
fustes
nez!
Sur
moy puünt tes
pecchez!
Mun fait
me fait
ci pener,
Mes
tu faz ma
dolur dubler!”
line1625“Mes tu mauves
cheitifs,
Mal eit l’oure
ke
tu fus vifs!
Tes maveis pecchez puillanz
Me funt rechiner de
denz!”
Issi
lur doyl
demenerunt,
line1630Ke chescun jour dublé
serrunt.
La
faudra trestut
amur,
Joie, solaz,
e
dousçur.
En cel put enclos serrunt,
Ne jamés hors ne
isterunt.
line1635Les deables lur princes
serrunt,
Ke jamés de pener ne cesserunt;
Le Deable lur prince serra,
Ke sanz fin
les
penera.
Jhesu est Prince
de Pes;
line1640Sa pes ne faudera jamés,
Mes joie, solaz,
e
amor
Ke renovele de jour en jour.
La premere joie serra
Ke li seint homme
verra
line1645Face a face sun Seignur,
Sun Deu e sun Creatur.
En sa beauté se enmirra,
En
lui tute rien
verra.
Tant serra de joie refet
line1650Ke il avera kant ke lui
plest;
Kaunt ke il veut
desirer
Avera en lui regarder.
fol. 115vDel
ciel verra la largesce,
La beauté,
e la
hautesce;
line1655Si
verra la gloriose,
La Mere Deu, la preciose,
La tré douce Virge Marie
O
tute la bele
compaignie.
Les nuef ordres des angeles verra,
line1660E chescun joie li fra.
Les apostles e les martyrs
Joie menerunt
saunz fins.
Pus
verra les
confessurs,
Les
virgines od
beaus aturs,
line1665Si
conustra ses amis,
Queus
al secle vit
jadis,
Si tres grant joie mener
Ke
quer ne
pust
penser.
Chescun si pussant serra
line1670Ke kant ke lui plest fra,
E
si serra si
leger
Ke il ert la ou il vuet penser,
E tuz si sutils serrunt
Ke la ou il voelunt passerunt.
line1675E li un al autre
dirra,
“Beneït
seit ke
vus cria,
E la oure ke fustes
né
Seit devant Deu honuré;
En
tei vei joie si
bele
line1680Ke ma joie renovele.”
Li autre respund ataunt,
“Beneït seit li Tut Pussaunt
Ke tele
joie te ad
donee,
Dunt
ma joie
est
doublee.
line1685En tei vei
si graunt leesce
Ke tute ma joie redresce.
E la joie e
le
amour
De regarder mun Creatour,
Ke aprés sei me vout former
line1690E pus me deingna resceter.
Cent feyz est ma joie doublé,
Tut ai kant ke ai desiré.”
Tele joie entre
eus menerunt,
En
joie tut tens
serrunt.
line1695Ki iloec meins serra beaus
Iert si clers cum le soleals,
Ke set fez plus cler serra
Ke ore n’est e plus lurra.
Solail ne avera dunc mester
line1700Kaunt trestuz serrunt si
cler.
E pus plus
beaus
serra celui
Ke plus avera
deservi.
E verra taunt de mansions,
Des
angeles les
legiuns
line1705Tuz deverse joie aver;
Mut avera joie del ver.
E pus si verra la plus bele,
La Reïne e la Pucele,
La plus clere e la plus pure
line1710De tutes autres creature;
Ceo est, la Virge Marie.
Sa beauté tant multeplie
Devant tutes autre beautez,
Cum ele ad plus de dignetez.
line1715Dignité
ad ele taunt
Ke Dompnedeu est sun enfant;
A
tant cum a
de beauté,
A de
franchise e
de
bunté.
A nul
ne escundit
ses amurs,
line1720Ses
solaz, ne ses socurs.
Pur ceo joie a lui
frunt
Trestuz ke en
ciel
serrunt.
Sa bunté
ne sa
hautesce,
Sa franchise ne sa simplesce
line1725Ne put nul charnel penser,
Ne sa beauté
deviser.
Ne autre
ne
purreit estre
Kant deigna de lui
nestre,
Ki ad tuz beautez
destine
line1730E tutes beautez enlumine;
fol. 116rKi
de lui bien penseroit
En joie
tut tens
serroit.
Mes la joie e la dousçur
De regarder sun Creatur
line1735Tutes
joies surmunte,
E vers
cel
n’ad
nule acunte.
Si tut le sen ke est al mund
De tuz les hommes ke i sunt
En
un soul homme
feust,
line1740E il tuz jours vivre peust,
Tant cum le munde porra
durer,
Enquer ne purreit
il penser,
Ne
deviser
apertement,
Une joie entierement
line1745Ke Domnedeu ad asis
A doner a ses esliz.
E coment dunc pust il
penser
La beauté Deu, nay, ne
deviser?
Mes kant glorifié serrum,
line1750Dunc apertement verrum
Cum il est treis en Trinité
E un soul Deu en unité,
De ki, par ki, en ki sunt
Tutes les joies
ke
en
ciel sunt.
line1755Cil Prince de Pes
les suens guiera,
En joie e en pes
tut tens serra.
E Deu nus doint par sa merci
Nostre vie
mener
ici
E ses comandemenz si
tenir
line1760Ke a cele
pes pussums venir.
Amen.
fol. 104vMaster Robert Grosseteste
Who thinks well can speak well; Without thinking, one cannot be in a position To begin any good work; May God grant us to think of Him, line5Of Whom, by Whom, in Whom are All the good things that are in the world. God the Father and God the Son And God the Holy Spirit, Persons three in Trinity line10And one single God in unity, Without end and without beginning, To Whom honor and glory belong. May He allow us to do His works And defend us from harm.
line15We all have need of God’s help, And not everyone will have the opportunity To know the languages, in short, Of Hebrew, of Greek, and of Latin In order to praise his Creator. line20As regards the mouth of the singer, Let it not be blocked from praising God And His holy name proclaiming; So that each one in his language May know, without foolishness, line25His God and his redemption, In French I begin my narrative For the benefit of those who do not at all know Either Latin writing or scholarship. Of the world I will recount why it was made, line30And after that how it was given To Adam, our first father, And paradise, in this manner, With so much joy, with so much sweetness, And then heaven, at the last; line35And how it was lost, Then restored, and after that returned. Often enough you have heard fol. 105rHow the world was created; For this reason I will not recount it, line40Except that which pertains to my subject matter: That in six days God created everything, On the seventh He rested.
Listen, lords, all together: When God at the beginning line45Had made heaven and earth (Who knows all good and sees all good), With all their contents, The sun was at that time Seven times brighter than it is now, line50And the moon was then As the sun now shines, Was bright at that time in the night. Do not take this for foolishness, For this is what Isaiah says. line55All the things of the world — On land, in sea, in valley, and on hill — Were of greater virtue Before they transgressed, Eve and Adam, through folly. line60God! What sorrow and what loss! To death are all those delivered Who are found to be of this lineage, And this is for good reason. Afterward I will tell you the cause, line65For it is good to remember it In order to love God the more sweetly.
When God had made the world, So that nothing was missing — Animals, trees, plants, and fruit, line70Each one in accordance with what it was: Fish in the water, birds in the air, This we are supposed to know very well — When He had made all this, All at the last He created Adam line75In the valley of Hebron, without doubt. He made him of clay in His likeness; Afterward the Holy Trinity Created his soul in truth. He could not show him greater love line80Than to fashion him after Himself. In paradise He put him, Made him fall sleep, Took from him a rib, From which He made him his companion; line85And then brought her before him And as a helpmate then gave her to him. Intellect He gave him, and knowledge, Beauty, power, and free will, Lordship of all the world, line90And life forever without dying, And paradise with the right of inheritance, And to live, until that time, Both without pain and without sorrow, Until that day should come line95When from them would have descended So many that they would have made up In number such a company As were those (i.e., angels) that through folly And through pride fell from heaven line100And descended into hell. After that they would have been glorified Fully without dying, do not doubt it, So lovely, so bright, and without suffering, As was the sun at that time, line105As earlier I told you, And then to heaven they would have ascended. Is it not the case that there is here great joy, Great lordship, and great glory To have heaven as an inheritance, line110Both for him and all his lineage? But two laws were established For Adam in paradise, And thus I will well tell you which ones. The first was natural [law], fol. 105vThat he must carry out naturally line116Each and every commandment, Whatever God had commanded. The [law] was called positive, That which He forbids humanity: line120“Do not eat of the apple Of the tree that is forbidden to you, For know that if you eat it At once you will finally die a death Without solace and without comfort. line125And if you do not transgress this commandment, You will have the entire lordship That is in paradise and on earth, All without suffering and without harm.” Of the joys of paradise — line130Many more than I described — Adam had the legal possession. Alas! How quickly it declines, His goodness, and his worth. He placed us in great sorrow line135When he ate the apple. He transgressed both laws — Both the natural and the positive — Because of his wife, the wretch, Whom he desired to obey more line140Than he did God Himself. Now is Adam cast out, Disinherited from paradise; From joy is brought to sorrow In labor and in sweat. line145By dying he will lose his life. Where will he seek out more help When he has lost through judgment All his inheritance? Through sin and through evil deed line150He lost his inheritance. Most grevious was this sin When everyone was poisoned. Whatever existed beneath heaven Therefore lost some of its virtue. line155God did not make a thing so high That it was not cast down by his (Adam’s) default. Whatever earthly thing there was, Each thing would have its rightful nature, If there were no sin that does so much harm. line160Sin, in a brief word, Is clearly default; Default and sin are considered as one. Through default he suffered such a loss, For the default was exposed. line165Default after default in the end Rightfully causes one to lose lawful possession. Even now in the court of the king One practices the aforesaid law. Now they are tainted by evil, line170Have become serfs belonging to sin, Who were previously more free Than any who were living on earth. Now he is his serf clearly, To whom he provides service, line175Since he serves him in bondage, And without freedom in a period of service. But a serf cannot at all claim Inheritance or lordship. Because he has become a serf, line180His inheritance is withheld, Nor will he be given a legal hearing about anything Or answered in any court. Then it is necessary to seek another, If he wishes to regain his rights, line185Who would be of free birth, Who might present the argument for him To claim his inheritance, And that he be of his lineage, So that he be true man, line190And that he did not eat of the apple. fol. 106rIt was necessary for him to come without sin And all three laws to keep: Those two of paradis And that of Mount Sinai, line195Which to Moses was given, Which never was kept By any who committed sin. And who is it then who could see so clearly; Who could think of such a man line200And such a miracle announce? Here I will bring my account to an end; Next I will tell you an exemplum That agrees well with my topic; For this reason I intend to write it here.
line205A King there was of great power, Of good will, and of great knowledge, And this King had a Son Who knew all His mind. Fully just the same as was the Father line210Indeed so is the Son in nature: Of one knowledge and of one power, Of one will and of one substance. Through Him He made everything That pertained to His realm; line215Whatever He wished to begin, Through his Son He desired to complete it.
Four daughters had this King, And to each one He gave individually Her proper amount of His substance, line220Of His mind, and of His power, And to each one in different ways, According to that which was appropriate to her. Each one has some of His substance, Yet the whole of it is one substance, line225Which belonged to their Father. Nor without them could He Govern His kingdom in peace, Nor rule with righteousness. It is good that I record their names: line230The first is Mercy, The eldest daughter of the King; The second then is Truth, And Justice the third after that; The fourth sister was called Peace. line235Without these four cannot any King govern a great kingdom. This King of Whom I tell you Had a serf who was harmed, Who because of a very great offense line240That against his Lord he had commited, By judgment of the verdict Was very severely tortured And delivered to his enemies, Who put him in prison, line245For they were desirous for nothing Except to have him in their control. They put him in a very harsh prison; They had no restraint about torturing him.
Mercy had seen this, line250Immediately was moved by pity, So that she could no longer restrain herself. Before the King she will have to come To prove her argument And liberate the prisoner. line255“Noble Father,” said she, “Take heed: I am Your daughter, You know it well, I am full of humility, Of kindness, and of pity. By Your gift I have these, noble sweet Father; line260Thus hear now my prayer For this sorrowful, wretched prisoner, So that he might be released from captivity, Whom in the midst of his enemies You have placed in a harsh prison, line265[Enemies] who betrayed him using a promise, Through which they made him sin. fol. 106vThey broke their promise Because they always seek out dishonesty. And may dishonesty be handed back to them, line270And the prisoner delivered to me. For You are the King of humility, Of mercy, and of pity, And I am Your eldest daughter, Over all Your works appointed. line275I would not say that I was Your daughter If I did not have pity on him. Mercy rightfully he should receive; Your mercy should redeem him, And Your very sweet pity line280Should place him in safety. For him ‘mercy’ I will cry Until mercy I find.”
This vow Truth understood here, That Mercy bowed down line285And intended in the end to save the serf And set [him] free from prison. Before the King thus she took her stand: “Noble Father,” said Truth here, “What a marvel I have heard — line290I cannot hold back from speaking it — From Mercy my sister! That she will desire through her kindness Finally to redeem this prisoner, Whom Truth intends to convict. line295Noble Father, I am your daughter, Born of Your substance; Mercy should not be heard If Truth does not guide her. If my sister could save line300Everybody for whom she wished to pray, You would not be feared, Nor any wrongdoing punished. But You are a king so trustworthy, Of heart so steadfast, line305That You seek nothing except truth, And this one asks for pity Who had no pity for himself at all; He can have no other help. Judgment he is to suffer line310And all his wrongdoing is to be punished.”
And Justice stood up And then said a brief word: “I am Your daughter, noble sweet Father, And You are King, True Judge. line315All Your deeds are full of wisdom, And Your judgments just. This serf of whom I have heard tell Deserved judgment, For while he was free line320He had Mercy with him, And Truth, and Justice, And Peace, all at will; Then he left willingly; Fully he stands surety for himself line325And is leashed to discord. For this he should suffer death, As formerly You promised this. Now let him be put in prison, For Justice commands it line330Since Truth determines it, Until You wish to raise him up And judge him before Your court. For Justice does not spare Anything that Truth tells her. line335To each one she gives through wisdom Whatever he should have by law.”
Now Truth is provoked by sin, And Justice intends to condemn him; There is no one who speaks well of him, line340Since pity is not given consideration. Ah, sorrowful and unfortunate one, On all sides he is attacked! fol. 107rNor could he be safe anywhere he went, So that the enemy would not assail him, line345Completely strip him naked Of his intellect and his virtue. Both him and all his lineage He placed in such low servitude And made them sin all the time. line350And Justice pursues, Judges them all in truth, Without mercy and without pity. Peace could not remain. She left the country, line355For Peace does not live In war or in hostility, And Mercy is not mentioned. All went into exile. There is nothing that was left, line360[Nothing] that was not put to destruction. The waves drowned them all; There were but eight souls saved: That is, Noah and his three sons — They are protected in the ark — line365And their wives who are with them. There is no more left of the world. It is a horror to think Of so cruel a judgment! And all is justice and truth, line370But without peace and without pity.
Then Peace said to the King, “Noble Father, listen now to me. Your daughter I am without doubt, Born of Your substance; line375I should be heard before You. My two sisters have abandoned me. Without me they make their judgment, And Mercy likewise Never was called upon; line380For this reason [he] cannot be safe, Any person who is alive; Therefore I flee from that place. I will stay with You Until this discord line385That has advanced between my sisters By Peace may be settled in the end. But why should they be appointed, Either Truth or Justice, If not to keep the peace? line390Justice has no other duty But that the peace be protected. Shall I then be rejected, When all good things are made for me, And recounted for me to have? line395But I am not protected at all If Mercy is not heard. My opinion should carry great weight, For You are the Prince of Peace. Peace is the endpoint of all virtues; line400Who has Peace, to him nothing is lacking, And without Peace it does not profit to have Either riches or wisdom. Who toils to have Peace Will have Peace in death. line405And for this reason Peace should be heard For the sake of this serf who cries out for mercy.
Of us four I will tell You An account that is true. Since four are appointed line410To make just judgments, And they should all together Make a single judgment; A judgment will not have a record Until they are in agreement. line415As one they need to agree And then form the judgment. This judgment [of the serf] will be repealed, For without us he will not be judged. fol. 107vWithout us he is punished too much; line420For this reason he should find pity. Lord, their will You have done, Now let ours be discussed, For Mercy forever cries For the serf, that he might have help, line425And I intend to flee the country Until they be of one accord.”
The Son of the King had seen this — The quarrel that arose, Which would not be ended without Him, line430Nor peace established between His sisters — And said, “Noble Father, I am Your Son, Of Your mind and of Your virtue. Your wisdom I am called, And by You I am so much loved line435That through Me You made the world; Therefore Your deeds are all My works. One We are in substance, In dignity, and in power. Your will I will always do, line440Judge, true King. As regards the quarrel, which greatly causes discord, Mercy has moved Me so much By the argument that she has expounded That I feel great pity for the serf. line445Mercy cries for mercy; She will be heard first. All her bidding I will now carry out; To Truth I will reconcile her. I will assume the clothing of the serf line450In truth and in righteousness; I will endure the judgment, Whatever belongs to Justice; And I will have Peace on earth proclaimed And make Justice and Peace kiss each other. line455And thus I will end the war And save Your people on earth.”
Those who understand this exemplum May well see clearly That its significance line460Is one power in God: Everything is of God the Father; Through God the Son are made all good things; In God the Holy Spirit Is everything accomplished. line465One God without division, One substance and no more. May He give His blessing to all those Who hear this text.
Lords, you have heard truly line470Why the world was created, Why, for what reason everything was made; Then how Adam forfeited it, How through no power Of his own would he obtain restoration; line475No angel might redeem him, Nor raise any person from the dead. At all cost therefore it was necessary That God become man: Man to suffer by way of death, line480And God to return from death; For otherwise [all] would have perished, Everything that was in the world. Listen here of such great love, Such great pity, such great sweetness, line485That God came down from heaven For His ewe (sheep) that He lost. Ninety-nine He left To seek one who wandered away; Therefore there is no better Shepherd line490Or merciful Lord. Whoever might think of this Lord, Who showed him such great love That He was willing to fashion him after Himself And subsequently desired to give Himself for him, fol. 108rSooner should his heart have burst line496Than transgress His commandment.
Now listen to the great sweetness Of the coming of the Creator. To Abraham is the gift given. line500The prophets recounted it — That is, Moses and Jonah, Habakkuk and Elijah, Jeremiah and Daniel, Isaiah and Samuel, line505And David and Elisha — Who tell of the coming of God. I cannot record everything, But listen to the message of Isaiah:
“A Child is born to us, line510A Son is given to us. He will uphold His empire, And His name will be called Wonderful and Counselor, God the Mighty and God the Father line515Of the world that comes afterward; His rightful name is Prince of Peace.” These are the names, in truth, That the prophets have called Him.
Now listen to me, everyone: line520His first name is Wonderful. Such a wonder is not heard of, Nor ever will be on any day, Until the time that might occur When God becomes man. line525Indeed whoever saw a child Who had so much excess That he had three feet and three hands, And a second who had less, Who lacked fist or foot, line530And when they were born like that, Would they therefore be wonderful? No! On the contrary for a fact The one has a defect of nature, And the other excess beyond compare. line535It will not be referred to as wonderful; Rather they are called monstrous. But this would be wonderful: If there were a man thus, Who had all the nature of humanity, line540Without defect, and in moderation, So that he were a true man, Who had no defect in himself, And at the same time were a genuine horse. It is impossible for such a thing to exist! line545But whoever might find such a thing Could call it wonderful. More a wonder is — and a thousand times [more] — The wonder of the Child Whom Isaiah foretold, line550Who is true man and true God. Of humanity He lacks nothing, And that He is fully God, this we easily see. Through Him everything is created, And without Him nothing is [created]. line555Indeed sin (default) is not created, As I told you before. There is no other God except Him, Who descended to earth, Who, under another garment, line560Fully took on the nature Of our humanity And became man in truth. And since He wished to be man, It was necessary for Him to be born of a woman line565In order to take on the nature Of a human creature. But God could not take up quarters, Except in a virtuous and pure place; In a worthy place He dwelled truly, line570There where he descended from heaven.
fol. 108vIn a castle beautiful and grand, Very strong and pleasing, For this is the castle of love, Of solace, and of sweetness. line575In the border region it is located, It takes no notice of enemies, And indeed I will tell you why. The tower is so well enclosed By a moat deep and high; line580It is not concerned about any attack, For it is situated so high Upon a rock, solid and gray And well polished from here downward, Where no evil could dwell, line585Nor seige engine hurl Anything that might damage it.
Round about there are four turrets; In all the world there are none more beautiful. Then there are three baileys around it, line590With strong walls and of fine appearance. As you will hear it related, Of beauty it has much more Than tongue can describe, Heart conceive, or mouth tell. line595They (the baileys) are constructed on natural rock, Surrounded by a deep moat, And adorned with crenels, Well polished and fine and beautiful; There are seven barbicans line600That through skilled craftsmanship are made. Each one has gate and tower, Where deliverance will never fail, And never will he have trouble Who comes to seek refuge there.
line605The castle is beautiful and sound, Painted on the outside and all around Variously with three colors. And thus the foundation is green, Which adjoins the rock. line610Great sweetness is not lacking at all, For well I say that sweet verdure Never loses its color. The color that is in the middle Is thus indigo and also blue, line615Which the middle color is called; It is illuminated by beauty. The third color above Covers the crenels all around So that it completely covers the keep, line620Shining so much round about, And is more vermilion than it is rose And has the appearance of a blazing thing. No tempestuous wind ever comes, Rather there is an abundance of mildness there. line625Inside the castle is white, More [white] than snow that is falling (lit., snowing), So that it casts such a great light Far and wide from the tower. In the middle of the highest tower line630A fountain is welling up, From which pours four streams That rush over the pebbles Until they have filled the moats; There is much joy and delight there. line635One could regain health Who could plunge into this water. In this beautiful and fine tower There is a throne of ivory That has more in its brilliance line640Than a beautiful day in the middle of summer. Through ingenuity it is fashioned; There are seven steps to ascend, Which are placed in order; There is nothing in the world as beautiful. line645The rainbow stretches out around the tower With its colors that belong to it. Never such a beautiful throne Had king or emperor. fol. 109rThere was much more beauty line650Where God intended to rest; Therefore there is never so lovely a castle: Never before was there any such thing, And never another like that will there be, For the Lord God selected it line655For His use to lodge in; Much He loves this place and holds it dear. This is the castle of delight, Of solace and of respite, Of hope and of love, line660Of refuge and of sweetness: This is the body of the Maiden. Never was there another except that one (And never another will there be, As long as the world shall endure), line665Who was fortified with as many virtues As the sweet Virgin Mary. She is situated in the borderlands, And consequently is shield and targe for us Against our enemies, line670Who continually lie in wait for us. The rock that is well polished, That is Mary’s heart, Which never softened toward evil But kept itself to serve God line675And her holy virginity Guarded with humility. The foundation that is mentioned, Which is attached to the rock, Which is painted with color line680Of such a very beautiful green, That is the faith of the Virgin, Which illuminates her holy heart. The greenness that is so beautiful Her faith continuously renews, line685For faith is clearly The foundation of all virtues. And then the middle color is Of beauty and of kindness. This is the significance: line690That in tenderness and in hope She always served her Lord With humility and with kindness. And the color above, Which covers everything all around, line695That is the one that is vermillion — There is none that is of such value — That is holy Charity (Love), With which she is fully ablaze And inflamed with the fire of love line700To serve her Creator. The four turrets above That guard the tower from assault, Where nothing evil can live, Are the four cardinal virtues: line705That is, Fortitude and Temperance And Justice and Prudence. At the four gates are porters; Nothing except good can enter. The three bailey walls of the castle, line710Which are constructed with crenels, Go all around in a circle And defend the keep. The one at the highest level Signifies her virginity, line715That never was blemished in any way, So filled with grace was she. The bailey that is enclosed in the middle Signifies her chastity. After that is the outermost bailey, line720Her holy marriage. Baileys they are rightly called, Since in their care (lit., in bailey) they hold the Lady, Who, without peer, is unique: Chaste Virgin, Wife and Mother. fol. 109vThrough one of these [baileys] must pass line726Whoever in the world wishes to save himself.
The seven barbicans That are built outside the baileys That guard well the castle — line730Both from arrow and from quarrel — These are those seven virtues, With which the seven vices are defeated: Here is Pride, clearly The beginning of all evils, line735Which is vanquished and overcome By her holy Humility; And Charity defeats Envy, And Abstinence Gluttony; And through her holy Chastity line740Lechery (i.e., Lust) is overcome; And Avarice, which wounds many, Is vanquished by her Generosity; And Patience, which overpowers Anger, That which tears itself to pieces; line745And spiritual Joy Defeats wicked Melancholy (i.e., Sloth). The fountain of grace wells up here That encompasses the castle. God gave His grace line750And distributed it with restraint, But He so loved the Maiden That He gave her complete grace, From which the grace that overflows Gives deliverance to all the world. line755For this reason is she justly called Blessed above all others. And what are the moats Except voluntary poverty, Because of which no siege engine could hurl line760[Anything] that could harm the castle, By which the Devil is vanquished And has lost his power? For formerly he had power so great That no living person ever line765Could stand against him, Whom he did not cause to be thrown into hell. But this is the noble Lady Of whom God said to the serpent That a woman would come line770Who would crush his head completely.
Blessed be the blessed one, Honored above all others, Who is beautiful and good, Of whose soul God made a throne line775For His use to dwell in; He took flesh of her to save His people from prison: This is our salvation. This Lady is very beautiful, line780Since she has so much virtue, More than any other creature, But when the Sun of Righteousness Was conceived within her holy body, He enhanced her a thousand times. line785Through the closed door He entered; On leaving He left it closed. There is no dispute or plea about this, For whatever God desires, so it is done.
Noble Virgin, Queen, line790Strong fortress of refuge, To you my soul is come, That knocks and shouts at your gate, Knocks and shouts, knocks and cries out, “Sweet Lady, help, help! line795Lady Queen, open, open! Let me draw a little Of that grace that heals The poor in spirit. Outside your castle I am beset line800By three of my enemies: That is, the Devil and the World And my Flesh, which incites me fol. 110rForever to do evil; They do great harm to my soul. line805They held a great conference: The Devil came first, Who stands up three armies against me, That is, Pride, Anger, and Sloth; The World has equipped two armies, line810That is, Envy and Covetousness; And the Flesh, which so inclines To wicked Lust and Gluttony. They troubled me with harm: I am a vanquished champion. line815If your grace does not help me I have completely lost power. You, who lift up the weak, Have me draw water from the moat Where the castle is steadfast, line820And Charity is constable.”
I have recounted a little about the castle; I am pleased to tell more about it, For all the good things that are in the world Have come out of the castle. line825This is the ladder, I say it truly, Where God came down from heaven; From her He took humanity, With which He concealed His divinity. The rod bore the flower, line830The Virgin her Creator, And thus the Child was born, And this Son was given to us. This Child is Wonderful, Who thus was born for us. line835There is not so great a wonder, it seems to me, As two natures joined together, And that each clearly Has all that which belongs to it, So that nothing is diminished, line840But that each has its rightful nature. This is Jesus the blessed, Who came down from heaven To reconcile His sisters And deliver His prisoner. line845He has two natures, this is the conclusion: True God He is, and true man.
Blessed be the Virgin, Through whom we know the news Of Jesus Christ, the fruit of life; line850Now is Mercy heard. In heaven the song of the angels is “Praise and glory to the Almighty!” And peace on earth is proclaimed To people of good will. line855At that time indeed there was peace on earth — In all the world there was not war, There was not conflict, nor discord, But all were of one accord And governed under one prince line860When our Lord was born. He was named Augustus Caesar, Whose rule proceeded everywhere. Indeed peace should be held In preparation for His exalted coming, line865Who sustains peace and establishes peace. Nature is greatly embellished When God the Creator Is without knowledge of nature When nature is created; line870Then is nature purified A hundred times more than formerly it was Before Adam had sinned. This man (Jesus) is of great power And moreover is of free birth; line875This one can truly plead for us And our rights recover. Now you have heard fully How this Child is Wonderful. fol. 110vThen behold, in the name of God the Father, line880How He is a good Counselor.
Whoever might consider here a man Who was emperor of Rome, Cast out of his country, But yet stayed on this side of the mountains; line885And then the mountains were so high That through ingenuity or through attack One could not cross the mountains, Nor go any other way; Whoever should see him in distress line890Then might say to him by way of advice, “Why do you roam about so needy? Return to your country. Go everywhere to seek your friends And then recover your land.” line895This advice would be good, If he could carry it out, But this is not genuine advice at all, Since it possesses neither benefit nor help. But the sweet blessed Jesus, line900He is a true Counselor. You have heard how it happened: He found man lost, Cast down out of paradise; Never would he arise line905By himself nor through his [own] power, If there were not a restoration by God, Who was willing to send His Son Into the world in order to save His people. He came to counsel us all line910And to show the way to heaven. But God is full of truth, Desires nothing but justice, Is not willing to save and heal Except those who are willing to serve him.
line915Look, man, at His power, And at the magnitude of His ransom, In which is no limition at all, And see how He humbles Himself, Who deigned to be born of a woman line920And to be true man for us. And then consider His counsel, How he leads us to salvation In such a very gentle manner, And thus says to us, “Noble sweet Brother, line925I see you here, lost And from your country exiled, And also you see clearly That of yourself you do not have restoration. Do not be in despair, line930And do not be afraid of this, For if you are willing to believe in Me, You will soon receive your inheritance. Listen solely to Me And follow My comandment. line935My yoke is pleasant to feel, My burden light to bear. Pity for you has moved Me; For you I have come here. I advise you, follow Me, line940And I will take on your battle. First, I intend to plead for you And will lay claim to your right, For I am of your lineage, Thus I can claim your inheritance. line945And I am of free birth, So my petition will be heard. I will take on the battle for you, So you will have a good end, For in the end I will vanquish him line950And recover your right. It is not necessary for you to think of anything Except to love God and your neighbor.”
God! What kindness and what generosity, When the one Who governs everything line955Showed us such friendship And an example of humility. fol. 111rBut this example is little valued And rarely seen in the world, For the world always loves line960The things that are worldly, But the spirit of charity Always loves humility. When the worldly person devotes himself to the world, And his wealth surrounds him, line965He thinks of nothing except his wealth, And to have more wealth brought together. When the wealth has dominion, It binds him so tightly in its snares That he becomes cruel and proud, line970Arrogant to all his neighbors. He does not in any way desire generosity, But authority and rank. Through pride he has forgotten The example of humilty. line975These do not at all follow Jesus, For their behavior contradicts them; They are unwilling to believe His counsel. And how then, and in what way, Do they intend to demand anything line980Of God’s inheritance to hold, When they do whatever He forbids And do nothing of that which He teaches, Because they seek power And desire nothing of humility? line985For this reason Lucifer fell Out of heaven into hell. For this reason, I fear that these will fall, All those who do such works. But I do not at all say line990That one cannot have great wealth, Great authority and great rank, Castles and forests of great breadth, And also be able to serve God truly And accomplish His will, line995Provided that he live in humility, In righteousness, and in charity, For the Lord God holds nothing so dear Than true love of the whole heart.
Now might someone ask, line1000“How did He come to plead for us? And how did He take on the battle And how did He win our rights?” Listen kindly, And I will indeed tell you how. line1005When Jesus was born into the world, He was so hidden from the Devil That he did not know of His coming, But he expected to rule everywhere, As he formerly had done, line1010But his power was taken away from him. He very truly saw Him as man on earth, But he did not know in what way A man came to be born on earth And to be always without sin. line1015And, marveling, he said, “Who are You? Are You then the Son of God? The entirety of this world I am willing to give you If you are willing to adore me.” And Jesus said, “Go, Satan! line1020You shall not tempt your Lord.” And that one said then, “What do You intend to do? I am prince of this world. For a long time I have had legal possession By the grant of the Highest King. line1025Unless I see Your counsel Or know Your secret, You will have much to do If You intend to win anything from me. And even though I do not have power over You, line1030Do You think to take away my prey? No! The covenant is set down in writing, Copied in triplicate in the court of God, That if he (Adam) disobeyed God’s commandment With me he would remain eternally fol. 111vAnd would die in the end through death, line1036And God does not wish to do any wrong, But will uphold the covenant That in His court was previously made.”
To this Jesus responded, line1040“The covenant has been fully upheld, But you broke it first When in treason you said, ‘You will not die on that account, Rather you will be wise like God.’ line1045You were the cause of the deed. Now consider therefore the argument: Do you intend to profit from the covenant When you are not willing to uphold the covenant?” “Oh!” said the Devil, “I am betrayed! line1050While pleading [my case] I am vanquished. From where comes to you such power, Such virtue, and such knowledge That against me you dare to undertake To dispute and present a rational argument? line1055I have lost everything in pleading, But it will not at all stay that way meanwhile; Truly he has done wrong, With the result that he is in my prison, And without payment for him line1060I do not intend to be wrongly dispossessed.” And said Jesus, the true King, “I will pay the ransom for him.” “If You wish to buy him, It will cost You very dear.” line1065“How dear?” “Only as much as he is worth, Before he may go free from my prison.” And sweet, blessed Jesus said to him, “This is truly wisdom and justice. I do not at all intend, in opposition to what is lawful, line1070To take anything from you by force.” “Give it (the ransom) to me then.” “Willingly: What is this judgment that you seek?” “I will tell You truly without doubt: Give me that which is worth as much line1075As all the world is now, And all that forever after shall come.” “Willingly I will do all this, For My little finger is worth more Than a hundred thousand such worlds are, line1080With all the people who are there.” The Devil responded in anger, “I well see that this is true, As I can rule the world But cannot approach You. line1085And are You willing to give Your finger In order to buy such cheap merchandise?” “No,” said He, “but My whole body.” “Before You have this prisoner free, It is necessary to do much more, line1090To suffer so much torment and hurt. If You wish to set right his wrong, It is necessary for You to suffer death, With as much pain, as much suffering, As would be appropriate forever line1095If he were remaining with me And living in hell.” And then sweet Jesus replied, “Whatever you have said will indeed be upheld, For Truth determines it, line1100And then Justice has judged it. I will do more than you have said, Thus the serf will be set free.” Thereupon the Adversary thought To gain by His death. line1105But he was caught, the glutton, As is the fish on the hook When it has swallowed up the worm, Is held fast by the iron.
Now observe the kindness line1110Of the Savior’s grace, fol. 112rWhich is easy to endure, From which recovery may come. All our misdeeds He takes upon Himself; For us He is treated shamefully, line1115This One who has never sinned, Nor had any evil discovered in Him. In all the limbs that a person has, By means of which Adam first sinned, He wanted His own limbs to suffer line1120In order to pay for our sins: For our iniquity, His head crowned with thorns; And for our wanton looks, His eyes blindfolded on both sides; line1125They spat upon His face, And struck Him with their palms; And for our wicked speech, He drank vinegar and sour wine; And for our wicked worldly deeds, line1130Had His feet and hands pierced. What more could He do for us? Tongue cannot so relate, Nor the heart of man so conceive, How He made Himself suffer for us. line1135Who is the one who would not feel compassion For such very great friendship? Such are the blows of battle That He suffered for us without fail. But when He handed Himself over to death, line1140He redeemed death through His death, For He suffered a hundred times more Pains and torments in dying Than devils had the power To burden human nature with. line1145For the soul so loves the body That it never will come out Because of suffering any pain — Even if one intended to cut it into pieces — Before the body has lost line1150The power of all five senses: That is, hearing and sight, And smelling and speech, And touching it (i.e., the soul) will lose Before the soul will pass out of the body. line1155Nature cannot allow The soul to separate from the body before that. But the One who has all power Increased His pains a hundred times, For when He hung on the Cross line1160He gave up His soul with a loud voice. There He showed that he was God, Then brought about our ransom. He did this in His living body, without doubt, And in this way He won the battle. line1165The Devil cannot charge so much, Nor nature endure [it]. Ah, very glorious Queen, Mary, Mother and Virgin, Because of pity I cannot speak about line1170Your sorrows, nor think about [them]. But then was all fulfilled Of the prophecy of Simeon: Indeed, more than in the body, you were wounded Through the soul by a sword. line1175But He increased your joy a hundred times When He rose from the dead. The Passion would be worth nothing If the Resurrection had not happened. You see now clearly line1180The completion of the battle In which the Devil is vanquished And the world helped; Our belief and our faith At that time remained, Lady, in you. line1185Everyone was in doubt, But you in steadfast belief fol. 112vRemained without doubting; Nothing could change your faith. Mary, Mother of pity, line1190Maiden full of goodness, In you then was our belief, But now our hope is That for us you will beseech Him Through Whom we are redeemed.
line1195Hear about sweet Jesus, How He through His great virtue Has counseled us in goodness, And how He has pleaded for us, And how He fought for us, line1200And how He ended His battle. Is not this One a good Counselor, Who thus bought us dearly, And Who prepared for us the way Where we might come to the joy line1205That, because of Eve, was for a long time Completely blocked and locked up?
Now consider in the first place How He is God Almighty. Now you will hear clearly line1210That it could not be otherwise. One God created all things; This God redeemed us. There is no other God except Him. This is the God of Whom I told you: line1215Three persons are named, But He is one God in unity. Through His deeds one can know And see the power of God, For all His deeds were blended line1220Of humanity and of divinity. Whoever pays attention to His deeds Can see it clearly. Whoever had here a sword Very keen and made of steel, line1225And one put it in the fire Until he made it red-hot, While it was hot No one would be able To separate the fire from the steel, line1230Nor sever the steel from the fire. And whoever would act with the sword Would find two natures there: The steel cuts by nature, And the fire burns; this is right, line1235And all comes out of one sword. So it is with Jesus Christ: He fully has two natures, Truly of God and of man.
At the wedding of an intimate friend of his, line1240In Cana of Galilee, Architriclin held a feast, When He (i.e., Jesus) changed the water to wine. Six water jugs were positioned there, He commanded [them] to fill them with water. line1245As man He appointed them to be filled, As God He changed the water into wine, And all this was a single work Of humanity and of true God. And elsewhere where He went, line1250So many people followed Him That He fed five thousand people From five loaves and two fish; And of the leftovers that remained Twelve baskets were filled. line1255As man He broke the bread, As God He has sated them all. And concerning Lazarus, observe, When He resuscitated him Who, four days in the tomb, line1260Was all stinking of death; With a loud voice He cried out, “Lazarus, now come out here.” fol. 113rAs man He cried out to him, As God He resurrected him. line1265In all His deeds one can see That He is God, without doubt. This God created all things, Who in the Virgin was engendered. In Him is our belief, line1270Our faith, and our hope, Three persons in Trinity, And one single God in unity.
You have heard clearly How He is God omnipotent, line1275But of His strength no one can tell, Heart think, nor cleric write. For this heavenly name Jesus Has in itself so much virtue That whatever is in highest heaven, line1280Or on earth, or in the abyss Bows down to this holy name; For this reason no one can tell of His great power, nor His strength, Except as if in coating the bark with hoarfrost. line1285I wish to touch upon it plainly, In proportion to what I understand. When the world was created, And Adam first had sinned, Then had the Devil so much power line1290That he did his will in the world, For he (Adam) for whom the world was made He (the Devil) had enticed into his power. He had so much power then That he was prince of the world; line1295Not through any saintliness, Through penance, or through goodness Could anyone make so great an effort That he would not be brought to hell.
But the strength of Jesus Christ line1300Has overcome and defeated him. He is clearly defeated, Seeing as he thought, as with other people, To make Him do his will And give Himself over to his power. line1305When he saw Him hanging on the Cross, He thought to take His soul, But he failed, the traitor. Rather, he was struck down in his turn, For the holy divinity line1310Has cast him into hell, Where He Himself has gone With His soul and His divinity. The doors of hell He broke, The power of the Devil smashed. line1315He took a great bite out of Hell When He drew out all His own, Who believed in His coming And had served Him with sincere heart. Such power was not heard of — line1320Neither [was] in the past, nor will be, apart from Him, For all the greatest power That was in the world He crushed. The Devil was the armed strong man Who had guarded well his door, line1325But when the stronger One (Jesus) arrived, He took his spoils away from him And drove him out of the kingdom; He cast him down into hell. For this reason Isaiah spoke truly, line1330Who said in his prophecy That He would be named Mighty. No one would imagine His strength: No tongue could explain it, Nor heart imagine nor describe [it]. line1335His strength causes fear, And His sweetness love. This One is our refuge, Our belief, and our salvation, fol. 113vOur faith, our love, line1340Our help, and our glory, Who was so willing to humble Himself And give Himself to save us. And one single God did all this: Father and Son and Holy Spirit.
line1345How He is Mighty you have heard, But, in God’s name, now listen, Hear further the story As Isaiah tells us, That His name would be called line1350Father by the people who would come In the world that was to come. For this reason He wished to come into the world, So that all the holy prophecies Might be fulfilled in Him. line1355How He was the Father you will indeed hear, And how He has begotten us. In Adam everyone sinned, And all ate the apple with him, And all who were begotten of him line1360Inherited the curse that he had, For they possessed it naturally; Nor could it be otherwise: Adam was our father, He begot us carnally. line1365But this begetting Would be grievous and severe for us If the grace of Jesus Christ did not exist, Who begot us in the spirit. All were condemned because of Adam line1370And through Jesus resurrected. He is rightfully our Father; He begot us in the manner That he washed us in His blood And redeemed our freedom. line1375Never father for child Showed so much true love, For when He redeemed us And delivered us from death by His death, Straight into hell He went. line1380Three days He stayed there (This Saint Augustine tells us), Until the morning of the third day. One Sunday He rose from the dead When the dawn first broke. line1385With Him He carried off all His own Who ever lived at any time, From the moment that Adam was created Until He (Jesus) was resurrected. He showed Himself to His disciples, line1390Drank and ate with them, Stayed there forty days, Preached the kingdom of God to them, Until the Ascension. When His own (i.e., disciples) in His name were line1395All assembled in one place, Then Jesus appeared to them To test their lack of faith, For all were in doubt Who saw Him resurrected line1400And nevertheless did not believe it. But know [that] their doubt Caused our faith to grow strong, For much to our advantage was The unbelief of Thomas, line1405Who would not for anyone Believe the Resurrection, Until he put his hands into His wounds, Which Longinus made with the spear, And then he said, “You are My God.” line1410“In truth, Thomas,” said Jesus here, “You believe it because you have seen it; And whoever believes it and does not see it, May they all have the blessing That I give you for your belief.” fol. 114rOn that day He clearly wished line1416To strengthen the faith of all people. He ate with His disciples, As formerly He was accustomed, And discussed their travels, line1420That they should go throughout the world preaching To every creature — That is, only to humanity, rightly — Both that they should believe in the Son of God And all should be baptized line1425In the name of the Father and of the Son And of the most Holy Spirit, For whoever will not be baptized Will never enter into heaven, But the believers and the baptized line1430Will be saved. Clearly He has shown us That it will be necessary to be born again. But since we will be born again, We must undergo an act of begetting, line1435That is, the water of the spirit, Where Jesus Christ begot us; And since He has begotten us, Our Father He is in truth, And therefore we are His children (lit., sons). line1440Certainly one behaves very much as a wretch, Who does not give himself to this Father. He (Jesus) did not eat of the apple; Through Him we can truly claim To have a just claim in heaven, line1445For He has kept the law — Has never disregarded one provision — That never before was upheld Until at His holy coming. The first man came from earth, line1450Through whom we have war. The second (Jesus) came from heaven, Who restored peace to us. The first man was of the flesh, Who did great harm to all the world; line1455He was cast out of paradise, Both him and all his lineage, But Jesus Christ, our Father, Gave us back our inheritance, Who is descended from heaven; line1460He has lifted us up from low to high. Who is descended from earth, to earth went; Who is descended from heaven, to heaven ascended; This was at the Ascension, The people witnessing all around. line1465For His saints He made the way Through the clouds, where He departs. The life and the truth and the way, With Him He carried the fair prey; All His own He brought with Him, line1470Whom He had carried off from hell. He transported them to the joy That will never fail, Where He dwells where He was before, With the Father, one single God, line1475Persons three in Trinity And one single God in unity. One God made all things, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, And if there is a distinction line1480Among three persons by name, Nevertheless one single God remains, Creator of creatures, To Whom honor and glory belong, Without end and without beginning.
line1485How He is Father you have heard, And if you are willing to listen, Truly you will hear a little about How He is Prince of Peace. Previously I recounted to you line1490How He ascended to heaven. Fully in the same way He will come from there When He intends to judge the world — In divinity, in soul, and in body — To judge everyone, living and dead, line1495As He was wont to walk in the world. He will show His wounds, fol. 114vWhich He suffered for the world, And how for us He was injured, His skin was torn by scourges; line1500How the Jews proceeded to strike [Him]; And how shamefully He was treated, His head crowned with thorns; And how He was hung on the Cross, His feet, His hands pierced; line1505And how He was stricken through the heart, From which blood and water poured forth. And He will say then to everyone, “So much I have suffered for you!” It will be no use to plead with Him, line1510Respond to Him, or oppose Him. Neither castle nor tower will be of any worth, Neither palace, nor beautiful ornamentation; All things will perish That are the work of human hands. line1515There the sinners will tremble, Their teeth chattering from fear, So that no one will be able to speak. Each one will see his own suffering, And before him his judgment line1520Will be written openly: All his deeds in the middle of his forehead, And all those in the world will see them. On that day, bitter and perilous, They will pray with hideous cry, line1525“Mountains, fall on us! Ah, lands, pray cover us, So that we may not see the horror Of the wrath of the Creator!” After this they will see such signs, line1530By which everyone will die. Before Jesus, then, will come A fire that will burn all the world; And it will burn all the plains And the cliffs and the mountains. line1535Heaven and earth will catch fire; The elements will dissolve. By the fire the air will be purified And all waters destroyed; All the world will be purified. line1540Nevermore will there be water, Nor will there ever be fire in the world When this fire is extinguished there. Then thus the Lord God will create A new heaven and a new earth, line1545Not at all the others that He has made before, Rather these He will set up in a better state. The angels of heaven then will come And sound the trumpets. First will rise, in soul and in body, line1550All those who died in Jesus; Those who will be saved Will rise at the beginning. To those our Lord will say, With great joy and with great sweetness, line1555“I was hungry, you fed Me; You received Me into your dwellings; I was naked, you clothed Me, Sick, and you visited Me; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; line1560And in prison you comforted Me. Come, My blessed children (lit., sons), Receive the joys of heaven, Which for your use are prepared From the beginning of the world.” line1565Then the good will be carried off High up into the air to meet him.
The wicked will be on earth, Will not see the glory of God; Yet at this rapture line1570They will rise together, Those unfortunate wretches, Who are weighed down with sin. fol. 115rSorrowful, they will stay on earth Until they hear the Judge’s voice, line1575With great wrath, dreadfully. They will hear their judgment: “Go, you wicked ones, with the Devil Into the fire that is inextinguishable, For nothing else have you deserved line1580From all the acts of mercy.” They will fall down into hell, Will be with the devils forever.
The good will be glorified In body, in soul, in truth, line1585For they will be bright like the sun. They will nevermore have suffering But will have joy that lasts forever. Many were born at an auspicious hour, Who will be able to come to the feast line1590That God will hold for His own. There will be so much joy then, Which will last forever without end, More than could sink into heart, Or eye [could] see, or ear hear, line1595Which God has prepared For those who have loved Him sincerely. The joy will never fail, And thus is He Prince of Peace.
Now hear of the wicked ones, line1600How they will be delivered to evil, For those who will be in hell Will never come out, Rather there they will be tormented In the pit, stinking and deep. line1605There will be nothing there that does not wound; The first torment is sadness; Each one will stand on top of the next, So that their suffering will double; The second then will be darkness, line1610The third then will be fear, The fourth, fire inextinguishable, And also the horror of seeing the Devil. The thing in the world that they most hate They will see continuously before them, line1615And unpleasant worms; They will see nothing that pleases them. They will cry every day endlessly, Gnashing their teeth, they will snarl. The one to the other then will say, line1620“Wretch, what are you doing here? Evil was the hour that you were born! Your sins stink on me! My own behavior makes me suffer here, But your deeds double my suffering!” line1625“But you wicked wretch, Evil was the hour that you were alive! Your wicked, stinking sins Make me gnash my teeth!” Thus they will express their sorrows, line1630Which each day will be doubled. Love will be completely lacking there, Joy, solace, and sweetness. In this pit they will be shut up, Nor will they ever come out. line1635The devils will be their princes, Who will never cease to torment [them]; The Devil will be their prince, Who will torture them endlessly.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace; line1640His peace will never fail, Rather joy, solace, and love Begin anew from day to day. The first joy will be That the blessed person will see line1645His Lord face to face, His God and his Creator. He will mirror himself in His beauty, In Him he will see everything. He will be so satisfied by joy line1650That he will have whatever pleases him; Whatever he will desire He will have in looking at Him. fol. 115vHe will see the breadth of heaven, The beauty, and the glory; line1655Then he will see the glorious one, The Mother of God, the precious one, The very sweet Virgin Mary With all the fair company. The nine orders of angels he will see, line1660And each one will welcome him joyfully. The apostles and the martyrs Will display joy endlessly. Then he will see the confessors, The virgins with fair attire, line1665Then he will recognize his friends, Whom he once saw in the world, Showing such very great joy That heart could not imagine. Each one will be so powerful, line1670That he will do whatever pleases him, And also he will be so light That he will go to the place he wants to think of, And they all will be so insubstantial That they will go to wherever they wish. line1675And the one will say to the other, “Blessed be [He] Who created you, And may the hour that you were born Be honored before God; In you I see joy so lovely line1680That it renews my joy.” With that the other responds, “Blessed be the Almighty Who has given you such joy, By which my joy is doubled. line1685In you I see such great gladness That all my joy is restored, Both the joy and the love Of looking at my Creator, Who was willing to fashion me after Himself line1690And then deigned to shelter me. A hundred times is my joy doubled, I have everything that I have desired.”
Such joy they will display among them, In joy they will always be. line1695Whoever is the least beautiful there Will be as bright as the sun, Which will be seven times brighter Than it is now and will shine more. The sun will not then be of use line1700Since everyone will be so bright. And then that one will be most beautiful Who most will have deserved it. And he will see so many mansions, [So many] legions of angels line1705Having diverse joys; Many will have joy at the sight. And then also he will see the most beautiful one, The Queen and the Maiden, The brightest and the purest line1710Of all other creatures; That is, the Virgin Mary. Her beauty multiplies so much Above all other beauties, Since she has more dignity. line1715She has so much dignity That the Lord God is her child; She has just as much beauty As nobility and goodness. To no one does she refuse her love, line1720Her solace, and her help. For this reason they will welcome her joyfully, Everyone who will be in heaven. Her kindness nor her rank, Her nobility nor her simplicity line1725No carnal being could imagine, Nor her beauty describe. Nor could it be otherwise Since He deigned to be born of her, Who predestines beauty to all line1730And illuminates all beauty; fol. 116rWhoever would think truly on Him Would be in joy at all times. But the joy and the sweetness Of seeing his Creator line1735Exceeds all joys, And in relation to that there is nothing that matters. If all the wisdom that is in the world Of all the people that there are Were in a single man, line1740And he might live forever, As long as the world can last, Still he could not imagine, Nor describe clearly, One joy in its entirety line1745That the Lord God has appointed To give to His elect. And how then could he imagine The beauty of God, nay, nor describe it? But then we are glorified, line1750Then we will see clearly How He is three in Trinity And one single God in unity, Of Whom, by Whom, and in Whom are All the joys that are in heaven. line1755This Prince of Peace will guide His own, In joy and in peace will dwell forever. And may God grant us by His mercy To lead our lives here And so uphold His commandments line1760That we might come into this peace. Amen.